The morning call., 1893-05-08
RuMBLINds IN GERMANY.

The defeat of the Capriyi Ministry in the
Reiehstag derives its importance from the
nature of the bill on which it was beaten.
Bismarck was often defeated, but his
power was not shaken by su ch accidents.
In 1851 he was beaten in his attempt to sub
stitute biennial for annual meetings of the
Reichstag and on the indirect tax bill. but
he did not resign and the public business
went on as usual Now Capriyi falls on
a bill which is known to have been drawn
to conform with thu Emperor's wishes
and which he has stated to be essential
for the preservation of Germany's posi-
iiOn in Europe His defeat strikes at
the heart of the system of which the En-
pernr William is the exponent.
To American observers the German EN-
peror appears to have been attempting the
impossible, namely, to blend military
despOtism with constitutional monarchy.
Constitutional countries are capable of
vast military efforts. as the history of our
civil war proves. But as a rule. militaT-
ism is irreconcilable with popular rule
The Emperor William comedies to the
Germans universal suffrage and control of
public affairs By the Reichstag; but at the
same time he insists on the maintenance
OF an army whose existence is c0nstruc-
lively incompatible with popular liberty.
1t IS creditab!e TO ths self-control of
the Germans that they should have
patiently submitted to such a regime
for so many years. Now they decide
that the time has come to call
halt. William wanted more men. and to
that the Reichstag replies not ouly with
negative but with a negatiyeiwhich i'm
plies prospective reduction of the army
as it stands. How resolute the Liberals
are may be Inferred from the fact that in
spite of the appeal of Won Bennigsen they
refused 10 accept she concessions which
Caprivi offered at the last moment, in the
hope of a compromise.
Another straw which may be watched
with advantage is the growing restiveness
of the Southern Germans at the predom-
nance of Prussia. Tie old kingdom of the
Braudenburgs contains 90 per cent of the
German people, and is, of course. entitled
to the influence which numbers carry.
But that does not prevent Saxony, Ba-
varia, Wurtemberg, Baden and Alsaee
from chafng at the dictation of the Prus-
slams. The Germans have always been
what we should call State's rights men,
and sticklers for local sovereignty.
L
B,smarck-Germauy's military strength
was impaired by the difficulty of inducing
the various States to act together Bis
marck used their common hatred of France
10 blend them into unity; but now it
seems the old jealousy of Prussia, which is
cherished by the smaller States, is crop
ping out again, and in case of trouble it
might became q serious factor in the case.
It is difficult to predict the outcome of
the crisis. The defeat of the Government
army bill at Berlin will be followed by a
reduction of the military establishments
of France and Italy, which nations will
be only too glad to relieve their peoples of
taxation for military purposes. Steps of
this character will react on the German
Reichstag; when it meets again in Sep
tember the Liberals win be likely to de-
mand en- actual reduction of the German
army. This. again, would be followed by
corresponding measures in Italy. France
and Austria, and so the vote of Saturday
may be an entering wedge for substan-
tial disarmament. That would place the
German empire on a new footing. The
throne would rest on the basis of popular
suffrage and not of bayonets. Could the
transition be effected peaceably with an
impetuous, Eot-blo ooded inexperienced
young man on the throne?
In speculations touching the future.
Williams adventitious position must be
remembered In the last 450 years the
house of Hapsburg has supplied Ger
many with Emperors for 429 years, the
house of Brandeuburg for only twenty
one years. Whatever obs acles the German
constitution of 1871 may throw in the way,
the German people probably possess the
Inherent right to fall back upon the old
regime. under which the electoral diet
chose the Emperor; and in that case there
is nothing to prevent their going to Vi
emma for a successor to William, and rele-
eating the latter to the throne of Prussia.