Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-15
Political Parties.


Germany has entered upon an electoral CAM
paign, the result of which, though Of supreme
Importance, is shrouded in the deepest uncer-
tainty. In no other European country, save
perhaps Austria Hungary, is there complex
a division of parties confused host Of
influences; and in none ia it SO difficult to make
any trustworthy forecast of electoral results.
Apart from minor factional differences, there
are four great lines of party division, which
may be described as territorial religious, social
and purely political: and these cross and re-
cross as to divide the members of the reichstag
into six leading groups. of which two are sub
divided, making eight in all. In the reichstag
just dissolved none of these came near being a
majority, and it is not probable that any will in
the reichstag about to be CHOSEN. The minis
try will again have to depend upon coalition
formed through compromise. 1t is probable.
however, that the relative strength OF the vari-
Gus parties will be considerably changed.
The strongest party in the late reichstag was
the center, otherwise called clerical or ultra
montana. 1t is composed of Roman Catholics.
chiefly from South Germany and the Rhine
provinces and has been steadily growing from
sixty-three in 1871 to III at the election of
1890. In its long and successful struggle
against the ''kulturkampf it has been notably
homogeneous and harmonious. but now that il
has lost its Incompatible leader. DR.. Wind
thorst, it begins to show signs of dsintegration.
IL
ton. but whether it will do SO this year is
probematic. The conservative group Is sub
divided into German conservatives and free
conservatives. or imperialists. These differ
chiefly i'll name, their principles and plans
being practically identical. They comprise
the junkers and fuersten-the squires and
nobles-and support the emperor and ministers
against parliamentary government. Their
numbers steadily declining. the former fac
ton falling from seventy-slx to seventy-two
and the latter from thirty-eight to twenty be-
tween 1887 and 1880. Their only leader of
prime authority is Robert Won Puttkamer
lately minister.
The national liberals, led by such men as
DR.. II. Won Benniugsen. DIR. Miguel and Prof.
Won Gneist, should be the party of the future"
They once stood for moderation. progress in
telligence, principle, independent thought.
But, never having the courage of their con-
victions. they have lost ground and prestige.
In 1887 they joined the two conservative groups
in the famous Cartel for the purpose of passing
the septennate army bill But in the election
of 1890 they lost fifty seats retaining in the late
reichstag only forty-one, and 1t Is not improb
able that they will this year suffer further loss.
The social democrats. led by Messrs. Bebel,
Liebknecht Singer and No!lmar. have. like the
clericals, been prosperous, harmonious and ag-
gressive in their long struggle against Prince
Bismarcks repressive laws. In 1887 they
secured only eleven seats, but in 1890 they
secured thirty five, and they bid fair to increase
their numbers at the coming election. Their
principles amply set forth in their name.
The latter remark may also be applied to the
anti-Semites or Jew-baiters. of whom the
notorious court chaplain, DIR. Stoecker. is
leader. They are not numerous. but they have
gained importance by winning the conserva-
tIves over to an acceptance of the intOerant
and intolerable principle upon which their
party is founded step which the conserva-
| tives will doubtless repent during aprolonged
| leisure.
There remains to be mentioned the great
Freisinnige radical party, now divided into
two factions. The larger of these is called the
Nolkspartei or people party. 1t is led by :he
| famous Freisinnige chieftain, Eugene Richter.
one of the able5t politicians in Europe. The
smaller. known as the Freisinnige Vereinigung
or radical union, is led by DIR. Heinrich Rickert.
The general principles of these two groups are
identical, though the latter has shown more
complaisance than the former toward the pres
ent chancellor and his schemes. The Freisinnige
is the party Of constitutional and parliamentary
government advocating manhood suffrage a
secret ballot, freedom of speech and of the
press, parliamentary control of finances and
ministry responsible TO the reichstag-a svs-
TEN almost identical with that of England.
In its ranks are such men of Eight and lead
ing as Prof. Virchow. Prof. Hanel. DIR. Bam-
berger. DIR. Max Hirsch. Dr. Siemens and DIR.
Heinrich Dorm. In 1887 it had only thirty-six
seats. but in 1890 it secured sixtv-six, and will
probably gain many more this year.
Such are the chief party factors in the con-
test which is now on. and which is the most
important since 1871. And over and above
them all are two much-concerned individual
watchers. One is the young kaiser, whose
boasts, my will is the supreme law" and
Those who oppose me l will dash to pieces"
have now been toned down to Ellis majesty is
willing even to allow the parliamentary ma
jority a share in the government" The other
is the grin old giant of FREDERICKSBURG, who.
having himself made the German empire waits
with saturnine smile to see whether his old
comrades grandson will mend or mar his
work