The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-07
BY q Decisive Vote the Reichstag
Defeats the Kaiser Pet
Measure.
That Body Immediately Dissolved
and tho New Elections Set
for June 16.
Excitement in Berlin aud Throughout
tho Empire ut Fever Heat-Anti-
prussian Sentiment.

DEhLIS, Mby bs-l ue army Dill was re-
jscted to-day in the reichstag by vote OF
210 against the bill TO 1872 in favor OF ii. A
rescript had been signed by the kaiser dis
solving the reiohstaQ and was Immediately
promulgated, and the reichstnR Is now dis
solved. The social democratic members
displayed the Widest enthusiasm over the
result, giving cheer after cheer. Great con-
fusion and uproar prevailed. Public ex-
citement was at its highest pitch in Berlin.
The new elections are set for June 10 and
the new session will open within ninety
days.
The result Of the vote ON the army bill
caused no surprise TO the government.
Cal rivi attempted yesterday evening to
rally waverinR members to the support of
the measure by offering to reduce the peaoe
effective even below the number proposed
in tho amendment offered by Won Huene.
The offer, however, did not gain single
vote. The last attempts at compromise
having failed. Caprivi refused TO sanction
the proposition to make the two years
active service permanent. Tho kaiser be-
came impatient of further delay and pro-
posed for decision by the reiohstag to-
day. Hence the vote WAS taken at once in
stead of being postr oned until Monday.
The failure Of the army bill makes II
necessary for the kaiser to defer for the
present his projected reforms of higher
military commands and of posts in the war
office. Chancellor Caprivi has gone to
Potsdam to offer his resignation to the
kaiser. The kaiser has summoned Count
Won Gutenberg Prussian premier, to Pots
dam. Gutenberg took the place of Caprivi
WIDEN he resigned that office. owing to the
decision of the kaiser to withdraw this edu-
cational bill from the Pfussian landtaR.
The most striking feature of the closing
debate was the resurRence Of anti-Prussian
sentiment. especially from the speakers OF
the center party. DR.. Lieber. after attack
ing Caprivi for having. as he put it, resorted
to the worst form of Bismarckian methods
to secure thelpassage OF the bill. said: "The
center party fights to-day against the ambi-
tions OF centrRlizing CBsariam. We pro-
test against militarism. which translates
itself in persistent endeavors to sxtsnd the
principles of the Prussian state into the do
main of imperial legislation. In the inte-
ests of the empire. We demand that Pfus-
sian ollcy be confined to the Prussian
diet, while German policy prevail in she
Ieiohstag."
Neither Caprivi nor Manteuffel attempted
to respond to this attack. Speakers TO. the
government side simply ignored the ex-
pressions of anti-Prussian sentiment. The
chancellor commented vaguely upon the
democratic tendencies recently developing
among the centrists. and suggested that
the policy now pursued by that party had
its inspiration in the vatican, which,
he said, was now the end of re-
publican France and trying to draw
ho ubni Nuth th,Ii in hn
direction. The German government, the
chan cellor added, had hitherto appreciated
the support of the center party on social
questions but it has now learned lesson.
he center party was Catholic first aud
German afterwsrd. The party stood ready
to commit itself to whatever democratio
evolution foreign influences might Gu oose
to dictate.
DIR. Won Bennigssen. leader OF the ma
tlonal liberals. gave a moderate tone to the
debate in a long speech urging the accept
ance Of concessions offered by the govern
ment. He deplored the inability of the
reichstag to sink party difficulties in the
safety of the empire and its prestige
abroad. II was bad contrast to the par
liamentary life OF other countries. not
only England, whore the most violent
party antaRonism never initiated against
the continuity of imperial policy. En-
W
thcnks for the tone of his speech.
Hurriedly convened meetings are being
held in Berlin and other populous centers
Tonight. The pfomptness with which the
rsichs.ag was dissolved Immediately after
the defeat OF the government was an
nouneed has taken everybody by surprise.
The social democratic leaders alone are
ready for an electoral campaign. Bebel.
Singer and Liebknecht will leave Berlin
Tomorrow and begin at onoe to stump the
country in behalt of the socialist candi-
dates. In owe y district III which the so
ciaiists have fighting chance candidates
will be nominated. aud tho party expects.
with reason, to have increased representa-
tion in the next reichstaR. The emperor
will not allow the dissolution of the reich-
stag to interfere with the programme Of
Eis eomine tour
Count Hoensbroeh. formerly member
of the society of Jesus. has been e1com-
inundated by the church in consequence of
disclosures recently made by him. and
which are held to be breaches Of the con-
fessionai.