The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-03-31
UNREST AMONG AGRARIANS.
German Peasant Farmers Demand q
higher Tariff on Grain.
THE BISMARCK DEMONSTRATION.
Revive. Runnors of Restriction OF the
sunrage-The Struggle Between tho
Ministers and High Tarin Conssvs.
tIves Of the Farmsrs' League.


been watching for two days the struggle
between the Ministers and the hish-
tariff Conservatives OF the Farmers
League The debates have been animated
and often bitter, for the Agrarian lead
ers have gone at the Government With
all the energy that they displayed In
their attacks upon Count Csprivi.
The peg on which the debate was hung
was Count Kanitzs famous proposal that
the Government raise grain prices by
monopolizing the grain trade. The mere
announcement OF the subject drew an
unusual number OF Deputies and a crowd
Of visitors. who filled the galleries TO the
last seat. Most of the visitors were Agra
rian sympathizers, who ignored the RUINS
Of the House and murmured audibly
their approval OF the big Conservative
speakers They ought TO have been re-
buked by the President. but in the ex-
citement of the debate their offence was
overlooked.
The strain brought upon the political
world by the demonstration against Bis
marck has been steadily increased this
week by reports of a dissolution and re-
organization of the Cabinet in the In
terest of Bismarckians.
RFsrRfcTfos OF SUFFRAGE.
At the same time rumors that re-
strction of the suffrage was contem-
plated by the Emperor and his ministers
have been revived by Social Democrats
and Richter Radicals. who evidently be-
lieve them, and are correspondingly
truculent. The Agrsrians are using every
instrument OF agitation to keep up the
popular ferment. Meetings OF peasant
farmers are held I'm all the rural dis
trlcts to voice the ProtectlonistS demand
fou Datg ei
on grain.
Agrarisn literatur. clogs the mails.
There Is hardly a hamlet or cross roads
where the .eople are not being stirred
with Agrarian leaflets end by Agrarian
speakers. The Prussian Ii ntag and other
pro yincial diets have been impressed into
the Agrarian service. They have runs
all the week with land owners denuncla-
TORS OF the commercial treaties and the
governments Indifference 10 Agrarian
claims.
coUP DE ETAT UR6fD.
The Conservatives and their allies in
the high tariff movement are determined
10 win al any cost. Defeated In the coun-
ell OF state. they came at once before
the Pruss8n Lantag with arguments In
its favor. During the debate in this
Tory stronghold Count Meyer5ach dis-
closed the dearest wish OF his party by
Urging the necessity OF "A coup q etat.
He argued .hat universal suff-age Mad
put the government at the mercy OF ihe
ignorant and incsndiarx- esspent ese1ne
empire. The only way-out was ~ prIys
| these members of their misnsed power.
The Federal council would havs lhc ap-
proval OF all thinking Germans 4 they
should dissolve the Reichstag, susps III the
Constitution. and hold the elections on tho
basis Of a limited right OF franchise. Ho
admitted that 1t would be difficult 70 de-
wise new electoral system )fr hand~but
he insisted upon the necessity Of IL
81 Germany was to be saved from ruin
and the revolution.
HAS BIsMABcK's suPPoRT.
Count Mierbach Is one OF the few pol-
ticians who had the courage TO maintain
openly ms friendly relations with Bis
mltck when the old Chancellor was under
the imperial taboo. lie still follows close
~ every turn In the policy OF Fricdrichs-
ruhe, and la this case he undoubtedly
expresses BismarckS Views. For In re-
cent years Bismarck has hardly conceal
ed his opinion that he made a mistake
i'm giving the Empire manhood suffrage.
Bu. few newspapers venture now TO ad-
voCate either dissolution or a restric-
ton OF the suffrage The free Conserya-
tive Post has come out boldly with tho
| declaration that Mierbach has suggested
| the one possible way out OF the present
| crisis.
"There can be no real security for the
| nation and society" It says. until uni
versal suffrage and the secrecy of the
| ballots shall be abolished" Even the
feudal KreuZ Ieitung hesitates 10 speak
| as frankly. although It's editor, Won Ham
| meFstein, Is not less extreme than Nier-
| bach In his Agrarian loyalty.
| The Reichstag ended to-day the debate
| on Count Kanitzs grain monopoly pro-
| posai and referred the proposal TO spe-
| cia committee OF twenty-eight. The
! Deputies then adjourned for the Easter
recess, which will last until April I'D
SENT CONGRATULATIONS TO BISMARCK
VIENNA, March 9O.-The National Ger
| man party, I'm the Reichsrath. submitted
| to-day proposal that the Government
cancel the order OF GraZ's Municipal
| Council, against a Bismarck demonstra-
| ton. The Marquis Of Bacquehern. Minis
ter OF the Interior replied that the Gov
| ernment could not assent 10 the proposal.
| In such matters the Austrian national
| idea often eclipsed the most conspicuous
| virtue Of the great hero, II was proposed
| TO honor. Devotion 10 ones own Father
| land and sovereignty ought always TO
| come first The chamber declined 10 vote
] urgency for the proposal The promoters
/ OF the project were the only Deputies vol
| ing in the Affirmative. Later twenty
three members met and sent dlspatcn
OF congratulation to FTiedrichsfuh.
Big Fire In FernandIna.