Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-08-20
A GERMAN SURPRISE,
Defeat Of The Government %
HE Canal Bill
GENTLE HINT TO THE KAISER
Ills HaI.sty Complains That His Cabi-
net Manages Badly.
INTEREST IN THE DREYEus CAstA
Proposition for the Pubiication -
Documents Calculated to Excuis
pate Dreyfus Beyond All Deubt-s
Samoan settlement to he Hatfield +.
Special Berlin Cable Letter Copyright

kSpeClal BeTHn NaDle lettcl. NopytAhhN
1899, the Associated Press)
BERLIN, August l9.-Tlie result OF
Wednesdays and Thursdays sessions OF
the Diet. the unbroken position OF tho
Conservatives, constituting almost ma
iorlty of the House. came as stunning
surprise not only to Emperor William.
but also TO the whole Cabinet. DIR. Won
Miguel, the Prussian Minister Of Finance
included.
To one of his intimates the Emperor
said, early this week. referring to the
opposition TO the canal bill: ITO yield In
this matter now before me would be tans
tamount to an abdcation."
To the same gentleman. his Majesty
complained bitterly Of the fact that the
Cabinet often managed AFFAIRS Of Inn
portance so badly as to force him. against
his will, TO actively interfere.
The result OF Thursdays balloting in
the lower house. when, by vote OF
22l to go, II rejected the second reading
of the bill relating TO the Dortmund-
Rhine canal and tho completion of tho
Dortmund-Ems canal and by a vote of
22s 10 I2s rejected the central canal bill
came as a surprise to the house hseif'
nobody supposng that the oppoSuon
was so strong, especially after thu Ems
peror's vigorous declarations.
GOVERNMENT FIGHT WEAK.
The crushing defeat OF the government.
which was meant as the defeat OF En-
peror william 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. Neither Prince Hohenlohe, the
Imperial Chancellor, nor DIR. Won MIGUEL.
though both were present at the session
on Wednesday, said word In favor OK
the measure with which the Emperor
has SO publicly and strongly identified
himself Their inactivity excited general
cOmnent.
II IL quite evident that an importane
part of the Cabinet does not share thd
Emperor's enthusiasm for the canals.
Putting things together It is almost Gers
tain that II the bill falls, as there now
seems small doubt It will. Sc far as tho
vital part, the Midland canal project. "
concerned, the Cabnet must be reorgans
lied.
II has been confidently asserted all
along by persons In the intimacy OF his
Majesty that In the event OF the defeat
of the bill the Emperor will dissolve tho
Diet and appeal TO the country. But even
II this experiment be made. which Is UNI
likely, the outcome is quite doubtful
THE DREYFUs TRIAL.
The second trial by court-mlrtial OK
Captain Alfred Dreyfus. at Rennes on
the charge OF treason. excited m1cn com-
ment here this week. especially the are
tempt on the life OF Maitre Iabori, lead
ing counsel for the defence, and General
Mercisrs sO-calied propOuncemerts. The
latter are not taken seriously. His state
meni that Germany was on the point OK
declaring war with France In l%$ IN ridi-
cuIed The whole German press ts united
on this point.
While the energy OF the French Govern.
ment is generally commented upon favor
ably, doubts are expressed NJ TO whaher
II is strong enough TO overcome the diss
affection In the army. Emperor William.
on receiving the news OF the attempt on
tho fife of NJ Labor. during the cere-
mony of unyeiling the monument 70 ms
grandfather at Arolsen Monday, used
strong language in denouncing the deed.
He said the crime was evidently part Of
d regular plot
His Majesty has kept himself ininuteIy
Informed OK the incidents OF the trial ~
Rennes.
PRo-DREYFCS PROPOSITION.
The correspondent here OF the Assoc
ciated Press hears that a proposition.
first made In the English press. and also
taken up by o number OF papers here's
for the publication OF some documents
In tho hands Of the German Government.
calculated TO exculpate Dreyfus beyono
all doubt, was seriously br0acheQ 10 the
Emperor. and lengthily discussed But
no finally concluded that this would noe
90 and that he must adhere strictly to
his pian OF absolute non-interference.
I.rt~r. several OF the uninspired papers
asssd the same opinion.
SAMOA.
draft OF the new Samoan act. pub
here, Is substantially as N appeared
erica. The correspondent Of the
i,ted Press learns that Germany
w. Internationally ratify the work se
~, ..4mmission, although neither Eas-
oefior William nor Count Won Buelow In
aulte satisfied. considering that German
interests are not adequately protected oy
the wording Of the new act,
GERMANY AND UNcLE SAM.
Several Of the most serious and indu-
entiai papers, including the National
zeltung and the Frankfort Zeitung, print
ad strong editorials this week on the se-
IationS OF Germany with the units1
states. vigorously recommending .he &C.
ca,tance OF Invitations TO the Philadels
.fnl