The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-08-22

Defeated In the Dfet-The Emperorss
Bitter Complaints Watching the
Dreyfus Trial

Defeated In the Dfet-Ihe EmperOYss
Bitter Complaints Watching the
Dreyfus Trial
Copyrighted by Associated Press.)
Berlin, August 19.-The result. OF
Wednesdays and Thursdays sessions
of the diet. the unbroker opposition
to the conservatives, constituting al
most a majority of the house. came as
a stunning surprise, not only to EN-
peror William, but also to the whole
cabinet, DR.. Won Miguel, the Prussian
minister OF finance, included.
To one of his intimates the emperor
said, early this week, referring 70 the
opposition of the canal bill: Ito yield
in this mater now before me would be
tantamount to an abdication."
To the same gentlemen his majesty
complained bitterly Of the fact that
the cabinet officials managed affairs OF
importance so badly as to force him
against his will to actively interfere.
The result Of Thursdays vote in the
lower house, when, by a vote Of PIP to
209, it rejected the second reading OF
the bill relating to the Dortmund-
Rhine canal and the completion Of the
Dortmund-Ems canal, and by a vote
Of 228 to 126 rejected the caltra. canal
bill, came as a surprise to the house it
self, no body supposing that the opposi-
ton was so strong, especially after the
emperor's vigorous declarations.
The crushing defeat cf the govern
ment, which was meant as the defeat
of the Emperor William and as King
of Prussia, is generally admitted to
be due to the clumsy, half-hearted
manner in which the government
fought the battle from the first. Meth
er Prince Hohenlohe the i imperial
chancellor, o DR.. Won MIGUEL, though
both were present at the session on
Wednesday, said a word in favor Of
the measure with which the emperor
has so publicly and strongly identified
eral comment.
1t is quite evident that an import
ant part of the cabinet does not share
lilo OiupclO1 . CuIuuSldC1I " luO "a
nal. Putting things together, it is al
most certain that if the bill fails, as
there now seems small doubt it will,
SO far as the vital part, the Midland
canal project, is concerned, the cabinet
fidently asserted all along by the per-
son in the intimacy Of his majesty,
that in the event of the defeat of the
bill the emperor will dissolve the diet
and appeal to the country. Even if
this experiment be made, which is un-
likely, the outcome is quite doubtful.
WATCHING THE DREYFUS TRIAL.
The second trial by court-martial OF
Captain Alfred Dreyfus at Rennes, on
the charge of treason, excited much
comment here this week, especially
the attempt On the life Of Maitre La
bori, leading counsel for the defence,
and General Mercier's so-called de-
nouncements. The latter are not taken
seriously. His statement that Germany
was on the point of declaring war with
France in 1894 is ridiculed. The whole
German press is united on this point.
While the energy of the French gov
eminent is generally commented upon
favorably, doubts are expressed as to
whether it is strong enough to over
come the disaffectiOn in the army.
Emperor William, on receiving the
news Of the attempt on the life Of M.
Labor, during the ceremony of unveil-
ing the monument to his grandfather
at Arolsen, Monday, used strong Ian
guage in denouncing the deed. He said
the crime was evidently part of a reg
| ular plot.
His majesty has kept himself min
utely informed of the incidents OF the
trial at Rennes.
The correspondent here of the AssO-
ciated Press hears that a proposition,
first made in the English press and al
so taken up by a number Of papers
here, for the publication of some docu-
ments in the hands of the German gov
eminent, calculated to eXculpate Drey-
fus beyond all doubt, was seriously
preached to the emperor and lengthily
discussed; but he finally concluded
that this would not do, and that he
must adhere strictly to his system OF
absolute non-interference. Later, sew
eral OF the uninspired papers expressed
the same opinion.
THE SAMOAN QUESTION.
The draft of the new Samoan act
published here is substantially as it
appeared in America. The c%orrespon-
dent Of the Associated Press learns
that Germany will unquestionally rati-
fly the work Of the commission, al
though neither Emperor William For
Count Won Buelow il quite satisfied,
considering that German interests are
not adequately protected by the word
ing of the new act.
Several of the most serious and in
~fluential papers, including the National
Zeitung and The Frankfort Zeitung.
printed strong editorials this week on
the relations of Germany with the
United States, vigorously recommend
ing the acceptance of invitations to the
Philadelphia commercial exhibition.