The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-20
WILLIAM SoRELY TROUBLED
DIETS REJECTION OF THE CANAL
BILLS ANNOYS HIM.

saws 10 Yield Would Be TantamOunt
to AbdicatiOn-COmpIa Bitterly
nj His CabInet-He May Appeal to
the Country-BerIin Interested in
the TriaI-WiIIiam Used Strong
Laneuage in DenOuncing the At
tempt on LabOri's Life.
Copyrlght 1899 by the Associated Press.
Berlin. Aug 19.-The result of Wednes-
days and Thursdays sessions of the
Diet the unbroken opposition to the Con-
s.ryatves, constituting almost majority
of the house, came as a stunning sur
prise. not only TO Emperor William, but
also to the whole cabinet, DR.. Won Miq-
uel the Prussian ministe of finance, in
cluied
To one of his intimates the Emperor
said early this week. referring to the op-
position 10 the canal bill: ITO yield in
this matter now before me would be tam
tamount to an abdication." To the same
gentleman his majesty complained bitterly
Of the fact that the cabinet often manag-
ed affairs of Importance SO badly as to
force him, against his will, to actively in
terfere.
The result of Thursdays vote in the
lower house, when by a vote of 212 to 2O9,
It rejected the second reading of the bill
reauns 10 the Dortmund- Rhine canal ana
the completion of the Dortnaund-Ems ca
ma, and by vote of 22S to 126 rejected
the central canal OIL came as surprise
to the House itself, nobody supposing thar
the opposition was as strong, especially
after the Empelor's vigorous declarations.
The crushing defeat Of the government,
which was meant as the defeat of Emperor
William as King of Prussia is generally
admitted TO be due to the clumsy, half
hearted manner in which the government
fought the battle rom the FIRST. Neither
Prince HOhenlohe, the imperial chancellor,
nol Dr. Won Miguel, though bou. were pres
ent at the session on Wednesday, said a
word iu favor of the measure with WARN
l9e Emperor has so publicly an stroncW
Identified hinsalf. Their inactivity exit
ed general comment.
1t is quite evident that an important part
OF The ca binet does not share the EmDer-
or's enthusiasm for the canal. Putting
things together, it is almost certain that,
if the bll faifs, as there now seems small
doubt it will, so far as the vital part of
the Midland canal project is concerned. the
cabinet must be re-organized 1t has also
been confidently asserted all along by per-
sons n the intimacy of his majesty that,
IN tna event of the defeat of the bin, the
Emperor will dissolve the diet and appeal
10 The country. Even if this experiment be
made Which is unlikely, the outcome is
cutie doubtful
Don't Believe Mercier.
The second tIial by courtmartial of Capt
Alfred Dreyfus at Rennes, on the charge
OF treason, excited much comment here
this week, especially the attempt on the
lille of Mai,re Labor, leading counsel for
the Defense and Gen. Mercer's so-called
dynouncements The latter are not taken
seriously. HIS statement that Germany
was on the point of declaring war with
france in 1894 IS ridicul2d. The whole Ger
man press is united on this point.
While the energy of the French govern
meut is generally commented upon favor
aulV doubts are expressed as to whether
II is strong enough to overcome the dis
aheoton in the army. Emperor William,
on receiving the news of the attempt on
the life of NJ. Labori during the cere-
mony of unveiling the monument to his
grandfather al Arolsen, Monday, used
sIonS language in denouncing the deed
he said the crime was evidently part of
a regular plot His majesty has kept
himself minutely informed of the Incl
uehts OF the trial at Rennes.
The correspondent here of the Associat-
H Press hears that a proposition, first
maze IN the English press and also taken
up by number of papers here. for the
publication of some documents in the
hands of the German government, calcu-
|led to eXculpate Dreyfus beyond all
uouDt was seriously broached to the En-
leror and lengthily discussed. But he
Haliy concluded that this would not do
ana tnaJ ne must adhere strictly to his
system of absolute non-interference.
Later several of his uninspired papers ex-
pressed the same opinion.
me craft of the new Samoan act pub
iSHed mere Is subs tantially as il appeared
Ill america. The correspondent of the
-issoeiat ted Press learns that Germany will
uuQuestionably ratify the work of the COM
imSsion although neither Emperor Will
IAN nor Count Won Buelow is quite salts
1Si' considering that German interests
az not adequately protected by the word
ing Of the new act.
several of the most serious and inhu-
,nual papers, including the National Zei-
s,s 'us ana the Frankfort Zeitung, printed
.lOHs editorials this week on the rela-
,5 o"s oi Germany with the United States.
o,9olousy recommending the acceptance
oI. "rIiat ton TO the Philadelphia CONNER
Val Exhibition