The herald., 1896-12-13

would wish, and the political leaders
opposed to him are bent upon proving
this In no gentle way. The number of
deputies friendly to the government are
largely outnumbered by the opposing
parties, and, moreover, the latter are
managed with rare generalship by lead
ers who are absolutely fearless. Al
ready the emperor has been called crazy.
How much further the anti-government
forces will go cannot be prophesied by
man. Perhaps before this letter reaches
the eyes of its readers the crisis will be
reached.
Emperor William has already con-
ferred with Prince Hohenlohe relative
to the better management of the govern
ment parties in the reichstag He claims
that if the same able leadership that
characterizes the opposing side existed
among his supporters there would be no
more outbreaks of the kind that hap
pened on the opening days. This has
stirred UP the leaders of the government
forces, but their efforts can be of no
avail because of the absence of numer-
ical strength.
MANY DIFFERENT PARTIES
To make this clear the workings of the
.reichstag must be explained. In the first
place it should be understood that the
political complexion of the lawmaking
body OF the German empire is as varied
as the rainbow. The different parties
are so numerous that at times it is a
difficult matter to identify them. There
are 1853 members of the reichstag and at
the recent session they are divided as
follows: 58 conservatives, 27 imperialists,
100 ceratrists, 49 national liberals IA
radical unionists and Richterites radi-
cells, 25 Freisinnige Volkspartei Rich
terites, 13 social reformers, 10 Poles, 12
Deutsche Volkspartei, 4S socialists, so
Independents. including 6 Guelphs, 8
I2c tro ri
vacant.
WHERE THE REICHSTAG MEETS.
The hall in which the reichstag meets
does not give one the impression of be
ing extraordinarily large, although,
looking down from the galleries. it seems
a very deep room. Its acoustic proper
ties, however, would only be excusable
in very large hall. The walls are much
higher. the galleries are further from the
floor, the presidents chair is more dis
tant from those of the members, and, al
together, this one hall is on bigger
scale than the corresponding halls of
congress across the sea. Like so many
public halls in Germany, it is character
lied by an absence of proper ventilation.
The Germans, who are implacable foes
to fresh air, do not appear to notice this
deficiency, which sometimes forces even
the most enthusiastic American to de-
part earlier than he would otherwise de-
sire.
The decoration and coloring of the hall
are very simple and pleasing. The wood
work of white oak makes a soft back
ground. A few symbodcal women figures
are there, supporting some of the arches
but they are most modest and unassum-
ing creatures, who do not mar the har-
monious effect of the whole by any gar
ish display of color. The carpet is dull
blue-gray color, and the long curtains
which drape the doors back Of the presi-
dents desk are a deep wine color. The
only part of the hall which lacks taste
and spoils the color effect is the kaiser's
loge, where the cushioned seats are up
holstered in bright red brocaded satin.
The resident Of the reichstag sits at a
table raised above the floor Of the house
in high backed chair, on which the
Prussian eagle figures prominently.
Just below the presidents table in an
other one, where several ministers sit
usually those at the head of the depart
ment.which is concerned in the question
being discussed at the time in the reick-
stag. Within this charmed circle sit the
stenographers. whose work goes down
these steps to the outside world. On the
IevAl Uith the presidents desk are the