The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-01-25

| people.
Bismarck aud the German situation.
1t is natural that delight should be ex-
| pressed In Berlin and all over Germany at
the news that BISMARCK has accepted the
| renewed overtures Of WILLIAM III. for a
reconciliation. and that next week he will
pay visit to the Emperor. With q man OF
BIsNARcK's character. abilities. and pres
| tige. IL Is almost certain that personal in
| tercourso will involve the recovery OF part.
| at least. OF his former influence. whether or
| not he is invited to return to office. There
| Is no doubt that his advice is needed. and
that. II listened to. it would promote the
welfare OF the German empire. both at home
| and abroad.
There have been a good many changes,
and not one OF them for the better during
the years that have elapsed since the young
Emperor imagined that he could dispense
with BISMARCK. Let us look first at the
internal situation OF the German empire.
During large part OF his long term in the
| post OF Chancellor. BISMARCK managed to
| avert such disintegration OF parties In
| the Reichstag as would render tho task Of
government almost impracticable. and
when. at last. he found himself compelled
to make considerable concessions to the
Catholics. no stopped short OF measures
certain to infuriate the Professionals. such
as au interference with the secular school
system and a recall OF the Jesuits. Since
he retired from public life the Conserva-
tives have been split into agrarian and nom
agrarian sections: the New German Liberal
party has been broken up into two fac
tions. namely, the Radical Peoples party
| and the Unionist Radicals; even the
Centre party Is shattered: the So
cialists have immensely increased In
strength within the Rechstag. and still
more conspicuously at the ballot box: and
the anti-Semitic faction which. five years
ago. had no Parliamentary existence. has
acquired considerable weight. 1t is true
that. Notwithstanding the tendency of the
popular branch OF the German Parliament
to dissolve into a fortuitous concourse Of
atoms. Chancellor CAPBIvI contrived to ex-
tort from the last Rechstag a reluctant as
sent to an increase OF the army. That con-
cession. however. would DO OF no practical
value unless the taxes needed TO meet the
additional burden should be voted, aud thus
far. the fiscal plan devised TO that end has
seemed to have but a faint chance OF being
adopted by the peoples representatives.
The unwillingness to supply the money
acknowledged to DO requisite for the ma
tional defence Is not the most serious sign
OF German dissatisfaction with the present
state OF things. Up to the last general
election the only avowed opponents of the
existing imperial regime who obtained
seats in Parliament we're the representa-
tives OF Alsace-Lorraine and few Guelph
lists returned from the former kingdom OF
Hanover. In the last contest at the ballot
box. however. there sprang up In Bavaria
party which made no secret OF Its Separa-
list aims. but boldly proclaimed its aversion
to Prussian ascendancy and demanded
for bavaria I'm amount OF independence
Incompatible with the present federal
system. Since then a memorable Incl
dent in the Relchstag has furnished
additional proof that the South Ger
man States are far from being lnseparably
welded to the empire. A member of the
Cabinet of the King OF Wlrtemberg. exer-
cising the privilege which belonged to him
as member OF the Bundesrath or Federal
Council. rose in the Rechstag and declared
that Prussia had broken faith with the
country OF which he was the representative.
There is only one precedent for such dem
onstration OF discomfort; no wonder. then,
that WILLIAM ii. is said to be alive TO its
significance. Putting this and that incl
dent together, aud considering the CONVEX
gent effect OF all the changes here reviewed,
we must give a negative answer to the
question, Is the German empire more CO.
herent. more consolidated. and more easily
governed to-day than II Was when Bis
MARCK was dismissed from Office
Even more unmistakable Is the weaken
ing OF the position Of Germany with relation
10 foreign powers. So long as BISMARCK
was Chancellor what was there that the
German empire had To feaTs The value
OF the Triple Alliance was unclouded by
suspicious OF lukewaTmness gu the part OF
Italy or OF her military ineffieiency. II Is.
however. in the attitude OF Russia that the
most alarming change is visible. While
BISMARCK remained In power the French
republic had no prospect OF effecting a coall-
ton with the Gar. The enemies, indeed.
Of the eX-ChRneelor have recently charged
him with sacrificing the interests OF the
Triple Alliance TO those OF the great north
srn empire. referring perhaps. to his frank
declaration in the Relehstag that Bulgaria
was not worth the bones OF one Pomeranisn
grenadier What is certain Is that he never
sacrificed the interests OF Germany. and
that he would have spared no effort TO
avert that cordial understanding between
France and Russia which has now been
reached. 10 the dismay OF all coOl-headed
and fsr-sighted Germans. Never In Bis
NARCK's time was the Prussian general
stan forced to plan campaigns on the fun
damentSl assumption that. ia the event Of
war with France. large part VI the Ger