The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1893-06-24
THE GERMAN SITUATION.
The Issue in the Recent Elections
Defeat of the Government.

The elections in Germany on Thursday Of
last week upon the issue of the army bill,
proposed by the government, excited great
interest throughout the world. owing TO the
many new problems domestic and foreign
the defeat Of that measure was expected TO
create.
To understand the situation it will be neces
sary to show what the army bill is and what
was the composition of the Reichstag that re-
iected it. The army bill is a result of "a con
vction on the part Of the military advisors
Of the Emperor that the increased strength
of the Russian army on the one frontier and
the increasing strength of the French army
on the other necessitates corresponding
increase of Germany standing army and an
increase OF the number Of men who yearly
receive military training. These objects were
attempted 10 be secured in the bill submitted
to the Reichstag by chancellor Caprivi by
proposals 10 increase the average strength Of
the army on "a pence footing from 46S, 400 to
49,. O6S, and To bring larger number of men
into training by decreasing the term of service
in the infantry from three TO two years. The
annual cost Of the increase was estimated to
be about SIG, OOU,000
The times were unpropitious for proposal
like this, involving new taxes. Germany
has had bad crops for several years and its
trade and industries have been injured, partly
by its own protective tariff aud partly by the
Mckinley tariff. With diminished business
wages have decreased and strikes and lock
outs have been frequent. Industrial discon-
tent soon found expression in politics. IL
opened the ears of voters in the cities to the
brilliant promises made by the socialists Of
an industrial millennium if the present order
Of things were upset. In the country districts
., 10 farnarg and farm iahorers
the idea that if protection was good thing
for manufactured products it would be good
thing for agricultural products also. A
demand for higher tariffs on foreign grain
and lighter taxes on land became prevalent
among the sturdiest supporters OF the govern
meni. A growing sentiment hostile to the
jews has been one of the surprising features
of the political situation, the idea being that
the financial distress was somehow attribut-
able to the operations OF this thrifty race.
Added to these factors was the grumbling OF
Prince Bismarck, who, unable 10 be content
in private station, was continually attacking
his successors administration of internal and
foreign affairs Public opinion was confused
and distracted, besides, by the scheming of
the various political factions in the Reichstag
for position. AS the government had no
majority the production in the Reiehstag of
IA new army bill was seized by every faction
as a means Of compelling the government to
give in TO its particular fad. The bill was
not considered, il seems, on its merits, but
as an implement of barter-the clericals,
conservatives. &c, all demanding oonces-
sions 10 their views as the price of their votes.
Ii was argued, however, that the country
is unable to stand any further increase of
taxation.
The Reichstag elected February 20, 1890,
consisted of a conservatives, 81 imperialists
or free conservatives, 40 national liberals, lOI
cenlrsls or Catholic clericals, II radicals or
Freisinniee, 30 socialists, lG Poles, 10 Alsace-
Lorrainers, anti-Semites and few nondes
cripts. The three parties first named con-
stituted the .'cartel," which had majority
in the proceeding Reichstag and supported
the government. but in this Reichstag were
an impotent minority. Won Capriyi laid the
army bill before keichstag in which he had
a hostile majority of l27 to overcome. In
March last the committee of the Relchstag
rejected the bill clause by clause, the chan
cellor having refused the iactionist concessions
demanded of him. Finally on May the
Rechstug itself formally rejected it By a vote
of 30 to 1862 The Emperor William at once
dissolved the Reichstag.
The German Parliament consists of two
branches-the Bundesrath and the Reichstag.
The Bundesralh, which is similar 10 the Sen.
ate of the United States, is sometimes called
the federal council and represents the indi
vidual States of the empire. 1t has fifty
eight members. who are appointed by the
governments of the individual States for
each session. Prussia has IL members; Ba-
varia, 6; Wurtemburg and Saxony, each;
Baden and Hesse, 3 each; Mecklenburg
Schwerin and Brunswick , each, and the
remaining seventeen divisions of the empire,
each.
The Reichsiag, or diet of the realm, repre-
SCENTS the German nation and consists of 1891
members, who are elected to represent de-
fined districts by universal suffrage and bal
lot. Prussia has 236 ofthe members; Bavara,
As members; Saxony, %; Wuriemburg, II;
Baden, "a; Hesse, 8; Mecklenburg Schwerin,
g. and the other divisions of the empire from
one 10 three members each, except the an
nexed territory of Alsace- Lorraine, which has
10 representatives. The basis for representa-
ton is one member for LOG, 900 inhabitants OF
the empire.
The campaign that followed the dissolution
of the Reichstag was II very excited one,
and many friends of Germany have felt that
the very existence of the empire was at stake.
The army bill was not, however, the sole
issue. Each faction had its own issues for
which ii fought. But nearly every faction
was split ny the army Dill issue INTO Two OF
more factions. This division is seen in the
fact that for 397 seats there were about 1000
candidates. Eight recognized parties were
multiplied to twenty, each clamoring for its
own principles and for or against the army
bill The socialists alone were united.
In many districts there was no choice and
another vote will have to be taken. Ofthose
chosen last week, there is thirteen majority
against the army bill. The contest was the
most exciting ever held in Germany, and
there will be even greater interest in the re
ballots.