The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-18
THE REICHSTAG DEBATE
FEATURES OF THE DISCUSSION IN
THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT.
Scandal Affecting Men in High Posi-
tiOns-The Legendary Abode of
the Virgin Mary.
Copyright 1895 by the Associated Presg.l

Copyright 1885, by the Associated Press.)
BERLIN, Dec. 1.-THE sessions of the
Reichstag during the past week, though not
so sensational as expected were very in
teresting from several points of view. The
debates were notable for giving rise to the
first official utterances on the Lppe-Detmold
affair, Emperor Williams Oriental trip,
the Anglo-German understanding and the
pending German-American tariff negotia-
ton. Some OF the statements were signifi-
cant. Thus Baron Won Thielman, the min
lister of finance, though the subject did not
come in his province, speaking of the Span
ish-American war, said: while it is true
that during the war the sympathies of our
nation-l admit 1t quite freely-were on the
side of the weaker and wrongfully attacked
party cloud Leftist cries of MOI, yet the
attitude of the empire throughout was per-
fectly correct and statements to the con-
trary in the foreign press were malicious
Inventions"
Herr Richter leader of the opposition,
while confirming the correctness of Ger
many's attitude during the war, remarked:
Il do not see why the sympathies of the
German people could have been as over
whelmingly as they were on the side OF
SPAIN
Count Posadowsly Wehner, secretary of
the interior and representative of the chan
cellor, referring to the reduction in imports
from America, said: Experts have been
sent to the United States to investigate the
matter and it depends upon their reports
whether we can facilitate such imports"
This statement refers to the dispatch of
three German experts to the leading Ameri-
can exporting centers especially New York
locf md heir
mission was secret and their reports, now
in the hands of the German government,
are understood to be generally favorable
to American interests.
Another remarkable feature Of the de-
bates was the reference to the Dreibund
and the Anglo-German understanding.
Neither Baron Won Buelow, the minister Of
foreign affairs nor any other minister, nor
the Emperor himself, in confidential talk
with the presiding officers of the Reichstag,
has been explicit in respect to either. The
Berlin Tageblatt, commenting on the speech
of Baron Won Bueiow, says: THE speech
was more remarkable for its omissions than
The impression left in the Reichstag was
that deep and lasting assure had been
driven into the Dreibund, and 1t is signitl-
cant that Herr Basserman, the spokesman
of the National Liberals and, hitherto, the
stoutest friend of the Dreibund, said: THE
procative tone of Count -Hohenstein
towards Germany is unjustitiable. 1t is APP
parent that the German empire must be
strong enough to stand on its own bottom
A number OF other speakers expressed them
selves similarly and outside In the loobles
the opinion was repeatedly expressed that
the days of the Dreibund are numbered.
On the other hand the press has much to
say on the revival of good feeling toward
Great Britain and the United States. Nearly
all the comment is distinctly friendly.
csoa;o1{s+ faction hos inf en-
the Reichstag a number of motions in favor
of the abolition of the lese-majesty para
graph in the criminal code, the abolition
of the dictator paragraph respecting Alsace-
Lorraine, the legal establishment of an
eight-hour work day and the widening of the
present rights of political association. These
matters will come before the house after
Christmas adjournment. Several of them
have not the ghost of a chance of adoption,
but they will lead to lively debates.
A gambling scandal affecting a number of
aristocrats has been brought to light and
has created a sensation in society. A
smart" club called the "Joval Club" fire.
quented by officers of the guards, cavalry,
high government officials, bankers and men,
bers of the Reichstag has existed in Berlin
for some years A stranger was recently in
PRODUCED by two highly-respected members
and soon became favOrite. All went swim
mingly until rumorS about his antecedentS
began to circulate and it was noticed that
luck invariably favored him. The Berlin
Tageblatt says the stranger got many men
of the best families in his power. The whole |
affair will shortly be sifted in the law |
courts. Several club men lost immense sums |
and the affair is likely to have serious re-
suits for the military officers. in view of
Emperor Williams determination to sup |
press gambling in the army.
The Italian papers say they learn that En- |
peror William will pay a ten days visit to |
Rome in January, and give a magnificent |
fancy-dress ball at the German embassy in |
the Palace CaffarelH. The costumes it APP |
pears, will all be of the time of the Roman |
empire, his Majesty appearing in a Roman |
tunic with great purple cloak.
Particulars of the acquisition of the |
legendary abode of the Virgin Mary at Jeru- |
salem by the German Catholics, which the |
Emperor announced during the Palestine |
trip, have thrown fresh light on the recent
scandal in connection with the sale of the |
American cemetery at Jerusalem Collins |
were said to have been exhumed and the /
bodies dsmembered and packed in small |
boxes and reinterred elsewhere. The names
of the purchasers or the cemetery and the /
particulars of the transaction have been /
concealed. 1t now tranSpireS that the ceme-
terry formed part of the site of the abode of |
the Virgin Mary, and was bought by the /
German Catholics in confident anticipation /
of an arrangement by which the Sultan TO /
obnge Emperor William would place them
which was in the hands of Mussulmans, |
who were forced TO sell under order of the /
Sultan. The Catholic press notes. in mock /
press formally and generally thanked the
Emperor for what he has done for them in /
Palestine, the Protestant press and Eplsco-
pacy have remained silent.
1T is a curious fact that though Count |
Posadowsky Wehner In the Reichstag
claimed Emperor william had attained