The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-03-19

fetal Head - Bold Utterances
Against Emperor Williams Policy
Made During the Debate-Dis-
cussion of Proposed Commercial
Treaty with America.
Copyright by the Associated Press.
BERLIN, March 18.-The unexpected
reichstag crisis, which has overshadow-
ed everything this week., was brought
about by the fact that the reichstag,
Judging by the words and manner of
the minister of war, Gen. Won Gessler,
was led to believe that the emperor and
bundesrath were satisfied by the military
bill as settled by the budget committees
report, granting everything in the shape
Of reorganization In artillery and cavalry,
and an increase in the army peace foot
ing, except that only 1000 men were
granted out of the $4,000 asked for This,
however, is really not the case 80 far as
the emperor Is concerned, and 1t was
only after the minister of war sudden
ly announced that the report was con-
sidered insufficient that it was discovered
his majesty insisted upon the passage
of the bill in it's original shape, or else
the reichstag would be dissolved and new
elections ordered on this issue.
Those who are close to the emperor
have repeated his sayings on the subject
which leave no room to doubt his
majestys attitude. But he is virtually
alone in the stand taken, since a ma
jority of the bundesrath made 1t clear
to the imperial chancellor, Prince Hohen-
lobe, on Wednesday, that their govern
ments were satisfied with the bill in the
shape reported. They further declared
that a dissolution of the reichstag on
such a trif1ing matter seemed undesira-
BILE and inJudicious. The bundesrath. be-
ing constitutionally the final arbitrator
in the matter, the emperor rislxed being
discredited If he carried out his inten-
ton of dissolving the reichstag. 1t SEEM
ed clear that a new election would not
be favorable to the emperor's wishes. The
popular vote, representing the majority
respecting the peace footing on Monday
the vote standing 209 to. III, outnumbered
the votes rejecting other proposals by
almost 2 to 1. :5 tos
The statements of sthe leaders of the
relchstag carried much weight, DR.. Lie
Der, spokesman Of the. Center party
showing that within a few years, besides
the regular military appropriations, the
reichstag has voted 1888, 100000 marks, and
that the peace strength of the army Is
much stronger than appears from the
bill, being really considerably over Co.,
600 men. This effective arraignment of
the Unsuitable military demands and the
statements Of the other opposition lead
ers, made. a considerable impression.
Herr Richter, the German Radical lead
er, said:
BOLD UTTERANCEs. -.e
eff the reichstag was. now dissolved 1t
would not be because of this trifling re-.
duction in the military bill, but because
another reichstag is wanted-one which
will pass a reactionary anti-strike bill and
modify the election law, and it's motto
would be 'autocrat, absolute government,
and destruction of the reichstag's indie
pendence.'"
This sally and similar remarks, made by
another speaker, were vigorously ap-
plauded by the whole. right, and it was
easily determined that the members of
this party were not eager to enter into
a new fight at the polls. Nevertheless it
was very hard to change the emperor's
mind, and 1t was only at the last moment,
before he started for Friederichsruhe, to
attend the interment of the remains Of
Prince and Princess Bismarck, two hours
before the discussion in the reichstag,
that he told the imperial chancellor and
Count Posadowsky-Weh secretary Of
state for the interior, that he would con-
tent himself with the reduction, and this
was only after it was shown to him that
by the additional resolution the govern
ment would be assured a few years hence
of what it contended for.
EMPEROR CHAGRINED.
Still the emperor felt that the reich
stags action was a personal defeat, and
his modification was correspondingly
great, for the influence of the court mil
itary party for weeks has been strongly
exerted in the direction of the bill. The
triumphal shouts of the opposition when
1t was learned that the emperor would
yield, and utterances OF a like nature in
the opposition press, have helped to in
tensify his majesty's modification. 1t Is
said that he feels dissatisfied with Prince
Hohenlohe, Gen. Won Gessler and Count
Won Posadowsky-Weh for what Is
considered to be the unskillful manner in
which the matter was manipulated in the
reichstag, and the lack of support of the
government in the press.
Before the decision of the reichstag was
arrived at the correspondent of the AS
ISOLATED Press heard gentleman of the
emperor's surroundings say:
This has been old Hohenlohe's Pyrr-
hus victory. The emperor7is tired of him,
and he will have to go at the first fitting
opportunity"
1t is said that his majesty is further ir-
ritated by the fact that the ultramon-
tanes, though only one-third of the mi
nority, upon this occasion triumphed in
Protestant Germany over the Protestant
emperor. This also seems to be a most
calling reflection in government circles,
especially as the ultramontane leader,
DR.. Lieber spoke on Tuesday and Thurs
day in defiant, challenging tone and
with the manner of master of the stu
alton.
COMMERCIAL TREATY TALK.
The papers are discussing the chances
of effecting commercial treaty with the
United States, and the figures of Count
Observation-Disclosures in the reichstag,
purporting to give statistics of exports
and imports between the United States
and Germany. They do not tally with
those given by Mr.. Porter, since he has
been here, or Mr.. Osborne, chief of the
bureau of statistics of the United States