The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-20

man election, where the number of par
ties is so numerous as to be confusing.
At the last general election in the Ger
man Empire, that of 1890, the vote cast
by the various parties was as follows
Old Conservatives, 919, $40 Free Conserva-
tives, 457, 936; National Liberals, 1,169,-
| IL; Catholic Centre, l, 420, 43S; Progress
lists, LAT, S93; Democrats or populists,
lS1 ,43S; Poles, I245, s42; Alsace-L orrainers,
lOo,479; Independents, 97,109. The Pro-
gressist party is otherwise known as the
'Liberalist,' Radical" or sFreisinn-
inge." Its leaders, Richter. They are
the moderate reformers of Germany, who
hope to bring about freer government
without going to the extremes which
the Social Democrats aim at. The
Democrats or Popuists are also called
the Social Democrats Their princi-
Piles have already been described in these
columns. The Catholic Centre repre-
sents the Catholic element of Germany,
and is often spoken of as the 'tclerical''
P"A " Ato 0iAiA 40 w AAOQlly lLl6
school laws of Germany in such a way as
to make them more acceptable to the
priesthood, and increase the influence of
the Pope. Nevertheless, when the Pope,
in pursuance of an arrangement with
Bismarck, attempted to dictate that they
should vote for the Septennate army bill,
majority of them resented the dictation
and refused to be directed. The Nation
al Liberals, kind of old line Wings, are
the. opponents of the Conservatives in
matters where Wings and Conservatives
usually differ; but have stood with them
in matters relating to the stability of the
national power, especially in carrying out
the plans of Prince Bismarck in his llater
years. Bismarck governed by obtaining
a union of several of these parties for his
required majorities in the ReichsUag.
The two Conservative parties and the
National Liberals formed This main body
in the last years of his chaneellorship;
but he also obtained help at times from
the Clericals also. The Socialists he de-
nounced as public enemies, and pursued
them as he would the French, OF course
the Alsace Lorrainers were also despised
by the Chancellor, for they represent the
French element in these provinces,
The Progressist or Freissinge. party has
been really the most interesting of all.
It represented q progressive, strong and
reasonable liberalism that would gradual
ly have made the government of Germany
more like that of England or the United
States. 1t does not sympathize with the
Social Democrats. Indeed, all the other
German parties distrusJ the Socialists
and often make common cause against
them. But the elections now going on
have SO far been very disastrous to the
Freissinge party, which, between the
Conservatives on the one hand and the
Socialists on the other, has been almost
swept out of existence. Eugen Richter,
the party leader is credited with the re-
sponsibility for this. 1t is said that the
Emperor and his chancellor made great |
efforts to associate Richter and his Lib
eral party in the Parliamentary majority
which should govern the country. This |
spirit of concession was regarded as
remarkable departure from the despotic |
traditions Of the Prussian monarchy;
but Richter repulsed it, treating it as a |
sign of weakness, and made demands |
which the Emperor could not grant The |
result was that the Imperial influence
has turned to the old Conservative |
parties, at the same time that the fear of
the Socialists is driving the Liberals in
the same direction also. The disappear
ance of the great middle party cannot be
good for Germany. 1t leaves the most
Conservative forces of the Nation ar
rayed against the most revolutionary, a
state always productive of trouble.