The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-08-27
POLITICS IN GERMANY.
Defest 4 IL Government : Hard Blow for
Emperor william.
REJECTION OF CANAL BILL UNEXPECTED
Will be Melted Out 20 the Blum
derers and Offenders.


Berlin. August 2s.--Thc political situa-
ton this week has been highly interesting.
The unexpected defeat OF the government
in the diet was a hard blow for Emperor
william and has engrossed attention to
the exclusion of almost everything else.
The fact that the blow was dealt by the
conservatives, party which has been
favored and nursed for generations at the
expense of every other party, made the
event all the more sensational. The alb
sence Of his majesty complicated the situa-
ton for the cabinet and the emperor not
having expected the rejection OF the canal
bill, no provision was made as to what
steps the government would take In such
an event. After the final vote, both Prince
Hohenlohe, the imperial chancellor, and
DR.. Won Miguel. vice president of the
council of ministers and Prussian minister
of finance, not having any instructions.
either the cabinet nor the government
knew what to say or do For several days
ton being at loss.
Detailed reports had been wired to the
emperor by every member of the cabinet
participating in the debates. and his majes-
ty wrote and wired brief replies. in which
1t was apparent he felt a keen sense OF
personal outrage and meant next to deal
punishment to the worst blunderers and
offenders. That, however. was INSULT
oient to let the cabinet see their way
clear how to shade their actions. 1t was
only on Wednesday that the nation and
the cabinet began to know precisely how
the emperor stood and what were his in
tentions regarding the unprecedented
situation, nothing like this defeat having
been met with since the establishment
of the diet.
Wednesday and Thursdays crown coun-
ellis however. furnished light, 1t APP
peared that Emperor William after ma
ture reflection had concluded not to dis
solve the diet and not to accept the reslg-
nation of the cabinet. 1t was reported to
his majesty that the elections might not
result in majority for the canal project.
while the dismissal of the cabinet and the
formation of new one would present at
this junGture new and almost nsurmount-
able difficulties. To break with the con
servatiyes, forming almost half the mem
bership Of the diet another party strong
enough TO govern 1t must be on hand
which was not the case. Another weghty
reason with his majesty is the considera-
ton skillfully dwelt on by the conaerya-
tive press that the emperor needs party
to restrain and fight the revolutionary ele-
ments, notably me socialists.
The proposed partial reorganization of
the cabinet, relieving II OF some OF It's in
efficient members, like Baron Won Der
hecke Won Der Horst, the minister Of the
interior, has postponed TO alIeter times.
his majesty meanwhile dlsciplining some
OF the most refractory officials, who as
delegates voted and agitated against the
canal Dill. The emperor and the cabinet
VIII. however, continue to govern with the
same party which brought on the crisis.
Threats appeared for several days OF ais
solution Of the diet and OF cabinet resignu-
lions.
The crisis is so serious however, that
every member of the cnbinet has been
called TO Berlin. Prince Hohsnlohe even
abandoned his usual summer trip TO Aus
see and Will remain in this city for some
time.
The widest rumors and statements per-
vaded the papers during the frst half OF
the week. The entire liberal press In.
dulged in the hopes of radical change Ia
the political system of Prussia--the sub
merging of conservative and agrarian ele-
ments and the coming TO the front of the
liberals ard the Industrial interests OF the
country. II was the premature and inju-
dicions publication OF their hopes which
startled the emperor and made him re-
trace his steps to the conservative camp
Inc correspondent here OF the Associated
Press heard from a reliable source that
Prince Hohenlohe insisted on dissolu-
tion OF the diet and the resgning OF the
cabinet while Dr.. Miguel viewed the sit
uatlon in the light adopted by the emperor.
Prince Hohenlohe, although he yielded. is
heartily tired of Office and can not we'll
bear the burdens much longer
most Interesting feature OF the sItua-
lion was the attitude OF the conservatives.
out OF revenge on Baron Won Der Reeke
Won Der Horst, the conservative diet
resolved not to pass any bills of which he
was the author or advocate This regular
boycott has thus far been carried out, II
intensely amuses the Vorwaerts, which
nrst recorded the fact that the election re-
form had been shelyed for the same reason
Inc present session OF the diet will
close soon, probably by the end OF next
week, after the most pressing business
HhS pteil ulspObeu OF,
The language OF the conservative and
agrarian papers Is even more extraordl-
nary. The Deutsoh Agar Correspondenz
one OF the main organs of the agrarIans
proclaimed that 1t was high time thar the
emperor learned that he was no longer al
the end OF the nineteenth century an All
solute ruler over yassals, but the leader
OF a free Nation"
The paper admitted that the defeat OF
the canal bill meant test OF strength be-
tween the government and the agrarians
The kreuz Zeitung. the old time organ
OF the Prussian conservatives Threatened
that II the government meant change of
attitude toward the conservatives the lat
ter would revise their attitude toward the
government, not only in the diet but also
In the reichstag,
The Kreuz Zeitung also roundly abused
Prince Hohenlohe. saying he was no friend
OF the conservatives and agrarans and
terming his remarks in the diet as most
outrageous words"
The Deutsche Tages Zeitung and all the
other leading conservative and agrarian
organs have daily defiant articles In which
u Is claimed the monarchy would be lost
II 1t attempted to govern without the con-
sentative party or against It.
The crisis, however, is now regarded as
ended. The canal bill will probably be
again introduced at the next session of the