New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-23
THE KAISER AND HIS CANALS.

The rejection of the bill for the construction
of the Rhine Elbe Canal by the Prussan Diet
is one Of the most interesting incidents in the
reign Of the present German Emperor or more
properly, King Of Prussia That sovereign has
several times come into conflict with the I'm
perial Parliament on the issue Of the increase
OF army and navy. the Parliament being IN
willing TO satisfy his militant desires Now.
tor the nrst time, he is at lOggerheads with
the Royal Parliament on a matter of peaceful
and industrial progress, the Parliament being
unwilling TO support him In the execution Of
public work of vast industrial benefcence.
Eight years ago the Kaiser conceived the
noble scheme Of constructing great system Of
inland waterways for the development and
promotion of German industry The first part
OF this was completed and formally opened
fortnight ago in the form OF canal beginning
at Emden, utilizing the River Ems as far AS
Munster extending TO Herne, in Westphaia,
271a miles from the Rhine and having n nine
mile branch from Henrichenburg to Dortmund
total extent Of 159 miles. This canal will
doubtless be of great value to the iron, lumber
grain and other industries. it being reckoned
that from 25OOO0 to 100000 tons Of iron ore
yearly will be shipped to Dortmund by this
canal instead of, as hitherto, through Dutch
ports. The plan of the Emperor is TO continue
the canal from Herne 10 the Rhine and In the
other direction from Herne 10 Bevergern on the
Weser. thence across the Teutoburger Valid 10
Hildesheim and so on to the Elbe River a little
below Magdcburg, with branches by the way
TO Osnabruck, Hanover Brunswick and other
places. There is now canal navigation from the
Elbe TO the Oder and from the Oder 70 the
Nistula; so that the construction Of the canal
from the Rhine 10 the Elbe would give an in.
land waterway clear across the Empire. from
the Dutch frontier on the west TO the Russian
on the east: from Emden to Dantsic. from the
Rhine to the Baltic Sea
1t is this line from the Rhine to the Elbe that
the Prussian Diet has refused to sanction. As
the route lies wholly within Prussian territory
It is, of course, Prussan and not an Imperial
German affair, and it is as King. not as En-.
reror that William III is interested in il The
victorious opposition TO it was organized and
led by the Agrarlans and Junkers. and com
prsed the whole Conservative party in the Diet
The Socialists cut no figure In the Diet, but II
IS TO be observed that outside of 1t they are
heartily approving the course OF their tradi-
tional foes the Conservatives. The ground Of
Agrarian opposition is the extraordinary one
that the opening Of such q canal would facili-
tate the importation Of foreign goods into the
country! That is Protectionism run mad, and
in no wise 10 be identified associated with
the enlightened Protection system of the United
States, which, instead Of hindering has always
conspicuously promoted facilities for commerce,
both inland and foreign. AS between the King
and his Parliament, our sympathies must be
with the former. He stands for progress: It
for reaction
We have said 1t is a purely Prussian matter
So 1t is, strictly speaking. The battle must be
fought out between King and Diet, not between
Emperor and Reichstag. II is the Prussian, not
the German. Cabinet that has resigned Yet 1t
~ to be remembered that the Offices Of Chan