The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-05-23
Caprivi's Prospects.

luz lcLIcT NLlCu We DuUllSlcu vi Ouuuhy
from our correspondent at Berlin shows
that IL the German Government is to win
in the approaching elections. 1t can only be
upon the lines OF compromise to which Gen.
Won CAPRIvI agreed.
There is no longer any hope OF passing
the Army bill in its primary form. making
the great addition to the number OF men
serving under the colors which was origi-
nally asked for. and leaving tho question
whether the term Of service should be three
years or two years optional with the mill
tary authorities. This, which the Kaiser
himself desires. and which the thorough
going Conservatives are willing to concede,
will not be granted by the new Reichstag.
Neither do We for q moment believe that
the Emperor has determined to nave all or
nothing. We regard as ridiculous the state
ment cabled to one Of our contemporaries.
that. in case the bill in its original form is
again rejected. he will a second time dis
solve the German Parliament and proceed
to call out all the additional men he wants.
by an imperial decree.
The German Emperor cannot constitu-
tionally, in time OF peace, call out for SER
vice in the standing army a single man
without tho assent OF tho Bundesrath or
Federal Senate. and Of the Reichstag or
popular assembly. II he did transcend his
constitutional powers. and by his personal
HAT summon some seventy or eighty thou
| sand additional soldiers under the co!ors,
who would pay them? The same extraor-
binary telegram to which we have Just re-
ferred informs us that Herr MIGUEL always
has fresh fiscal expedients up his sleeve,
and can be relied upon to provide the WAYS
and means. What has Herr MIGUEL to do
with the finances of the German empire ?
He is simply Finance Minister OF Prussia,
and has not an atom of authority in the
other semi-indepcndent States which make
up the confederation.
Will it be said that he could wiring from
Prussian taxpayers alone enough money
to maintain the large additional contingent.
parts OF which. by the hypothesis. would be
drawn from Bavaria. W1rtemberg. Baden,
Darmstadt. Saxony. M~ecklenburg. and other
constituent members OF the German en-
pire 7? One would like to see such a proposal
made to tho Prussian Landtag. which al
ready deems the hereditary subjects OF the
HoHENZoLLERNs overwhelmed. Or will it
be alleged that tho mine constituent States
will gladly bear their shares Of the extra
expenses. because their sovereigns concur
with the Kaiser in thinking the proposed
enlargement OF the army Indispensable +?
30 far as some OF the South German States
are concerned, this concurrence OF their
rulers is questionable. and In no event could
they raise a kreutzer by way OF additional
tax without the assent OF their legisla-
lures. What chance is there of obtaining that
assent, when the very same constituencies
which would return an adverse majority to
the Relchstag would also return adverse
majorities to the local assemblies :?
II the Kaiser is to carry the Army bill in
any form whatever. 1t must be with the ac-
quiescence of the new Reichstag, and this
can only be gained by giving his Chancel-
Tor a free hand In the matter of propitia-
ton and of compromise. That he has made
up his mind to dc so may be guessed from
the political combinations which are now
being effected in doubtful constituencies nil
over Germany. We learn from our Berlin
correspondent that in those districts where
the National Liberals have no hone OF elect.
ing nominees OF their own. they will throw
their votes to candidates Of the Unionist
Radicals. who. under RIcKERr. HINzE, and
BAMBERGER, lately seeded from tho Fret
sinnige party, and announced their inten-
ton Of supporting the military project,
provided it were amended SO us not only To
reduce the number Of additional soldiers, but
also to make a two years term OF service
mandatory instead OF optional.
Scarcely less significant Is the omission
OF the Centre party to put forth an Official
programme. n fact which leaves Prussian
Catholics ut liberty to return such men as
Baron Won HUENR. who evinced a readiness
to accept the Chancellor's concessions. As
regards the Poles. 1t should be remembered
that just before the dissolution OF the last
Reichstag they notified the Centrists. with
whom they usually cooperate. that they
should assert their independence in the
matter OF accepting the compromise to
which Baron o HUENE had agreed. We
add that not only the National Lib
erals but even the Conservatives In some
closely contested districts have signified a
purpose Of voting for Unlonist Radical can