The evening times., 1898-05-28
NEWS FROM GERMANY.

"
Oficially the fact is carefully concealed
in Germany that there is a strong and
ever-growing movement in favor Of an
nexing those countries and provinces con-
sidered to belong by rights. by the bonds
Of nationality. blood and language, within
the pale of the new empire. When now
and then some paper or speaker of Hol-
land. of the Flemish part of Belgium or
the German cantons of Switzerland ex-
press fear that sooner or later the big
empire may want to grasp these neigh
boring territories in its brawny fist, the
government press Of Germany at once
denies any such intention now or in the
future.
Most cautious of all, however, is the
tone Of this press in treating the Aus
trian question. There is never any official
or semi-official admission of aspirations
aiming at the incorporation of those Aus
trian provinces where men of German
blood dwell. 1o.00O, 600 Of them. Neverthe-
ment aiming at the gradual aggression
of all those provinces. and even of the
so-called Baltic provinces of Russia,
where live 100000 men of the German
race. men from among whom came
number OF the ablest statesmen of Rus
sia, like the Pahlens. the Ostens. the Mu-
raus. and soldiers like Todleben. or ad-
ministrators like the krachts.
The addition of all these neighboring
provinces of German blood would give
Germany 90 0O0, 900 more Of people and ad-
ditional territory half as large as the
whole Of Germany today-a gain of such
enormous proportions as comparatively
to dwarf the acquisition of little Alsace
and German Lorraine. There is, however.
no immediate chance of acquiring any or
all of this territory. and to openly foster
the propaganda in behalf OF 1t would en-
broil Germany with all its neighbors-
with Austria, Holland. Belgium, Switzer-
land. Hence quite shrewdly the German
in no wise takes part in II,
but neither does this same government
In any way discourage the movement,
1t useful to let things take their
course, in the hope that time may come
when opportunities favorable to the ac-
quisition of these provinces may arise.
In acting in this belief the German gov
ernment is following in Bismarck's foot
steps. whose political belief it always was
that everything comes to him who waits
and who seizes the right moment to
grasp 1t.
Meanwhile there is a whole school Of
politicians in Germany who keep alive the
agitation. the so-called pan-German Tor
party, with members of
prominence in the national councils.
Scores of newspapers here are exponents
of this pan-German idea, and many men,
bers of the reichstag and of the various
state legislatures belong to it, especially
among the conservatives. OF course all
his is what the Germans call "zukunfts-
music" but IL is. for instance, confidently
expected that Austria will fall apart be-
fore long; that the inner nationalistic
strife which RACES now will hasten the
process of dismemberment. and that when
he breaking-up comes the German parts
of that empire will naturally gravitate
.oward the brethren of the Germany of
today, a calculation which is probably
quite correct. The movement itself is on
par with the pan-Slavic movement in
Russia where it was, during the reign
# the late car. Alexander I'LL, the domi-
nent movement. and, with the pam
American movement in Great Britain, its
colonies, and the United States-like to
is the motto these days.
The reichstag has now adjourned for |
rood, its period Of five years having ex-
bred, and the elections at which new |
of them-are to be chosen.
re to occur June 16. Many of the old |
members will not try for reelection,
lmong them the president, or speaker,
Baron Won Buol, and some of the war
lorses of the agrarian party, like Man. |
euffel, Mirbach and others; but the en-
,eror's friend. Baron Stumm, has been
'revailed upon to become a candidate and
rom now on it will be rather lively,
specially after the closure of the Prus- |
ian diet, which will occur on the 18th |
Instant. It seems to be pretty generally
expected that the new reichstag will be |
n its political complexion good deal
ike the last one, or even more reactionary |
n it's tendencies.
The Hispano- American war continues to |
e judged as a stock specializing venture |
4 the United States, and the press, with
cry few exceptions, continues to call I'm
lie Sam all sorts of hard names, OF which /
geldprotz," or ''purse-proud upstart," is
bout the mildest. Nobody here believes
word about those motives Of humanity |
a interfering in Cuba of which Mr.. Nc
linley repeatedly spoke in his public ut
erances Rapacity, greed of possessing |
he beautiful island and a Jingo love of |
are the main motives at
ributed to Uncle Sam in his quarrel with
pain. For the latter country, although
germany mas no eartnty reason 10 Ieel
riendly toward 1t, vast amount of SYM
athy Is wasted here.
But such a surprise as that naval battle
ear Manila was folk lore here! They /
i'd not believe 1t for over twenty-four
ours. even after 1t was shown that the
ews regarding that glorious victory
anne from Spanish sources alone, and |
therefore, must in reason be presumed to
e true. And then when they could not
elp admitting 1t to be substantially COR
ect, they at once went to work to be-
tile this same victory. All this shows
wo things-first. that the United States
dislixed here as in every other country
( continental Europe. and. second, that
europeans have the lowest possible opin-
m Of the American fighting power, the
Imerican navy and army, more especial
= the American militia, of which It was
opposed that they would all run away
the first cannon shot.
Apparently the two largest and most
owerful parties In Germany at these
oming elections will be the socialists. who
re going To nut nm candidates NJ fhp{r