The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-09-12

Situation Insensined-Several Cabtvss
O0cials Dssmlssed-Ftxns B~etvvee v
he Emperor and the Agrartans

Omctals O10mshs~ed-RtxnI 8eevgee v
he Emperor and she Axrarians
Copyright by Associated Pressl
Bern. September s.-The situaf lon
in international politics has been some
what intensified this week. The dis
uissal Of several cabinet members and
a number o. higher Prussiau officials
Is merely a symptom Of this 1he EN-
peror. as keg OF Prussia. before start
ng FOR the maneuvers. had lengthy
conversations with Prince Won Hohen-
sohe, the imperial chancellor. and pres
icent Of the Prussian council OF min
listers, and DR.. Miguel. v~ice-president
Of the council, and minister Of finance.
in which the difficulties OF the si;ua-
ton We're thoroughly discussed
The emperor hopes 10 sre the canal
bill. when It is r~eintroeuced with modi-
fcations at the mex session, pass, not
withstanding the opposition of the
agarians. In this. he will probably
be disappointed despite the methods
employed in discipling the agarians
and the government officials serving as
delegates 10 the diet The emperor Is
resolved TO go 10 the length Of forcing
the resignation of every official, be hr
high or low, who actively s~ympathizes
with the powerful agrarian society, the
Bund der Landwirthe This will strike
many.
At the secret meeting Of the agrarian
leaders this week ii Vas resolved TO try
to checkmate the emperor by playing
off the canal bill against the anti-strike
measure and thus render impossible the
immediate dissolution Of the diet, for
it is argued that the emperor cannot
rely on the agrarans and conservatives
to father his pet ani-strike bill and at
| the same time dissolve the diet, because
the same membres do not sanction an
other of his pet measures
The agrarian leaders will do their ut
m to impress this upon the empe-
ror's mind. They also count upon the
| probability Of the dissolution of the
reichstag ON the rejection OF the anti
| strike bill, of which there is hardly a
, doubt, as the centre and the left are re-
solved TO bury the measure ignoni-
| nously.
Besides, the agrarians believe that
| they have a chance of defeating the re-
| newal of the commercial treaties, espe-
| cially the one with Russia, or OF con-
| siderably modifying them so as TO rem
| der them unacceptable to the other
| governments. They will insist Upon a
higher tariff on Russian cereals, which
/ Russia will not stand. They also
strongly hope that the commercial
treaty with the United States will not
be ready for presentation to the reich
stag at it's next session and that the
failure of the other treaties will involve
that with the United States.
In the meantime, it is reported that
the emperor is furious with the agra
riars, and the Associated Press repre-
sentative here learns that his majesty
has pronounced in favor of a rein.
leiche scheindung' (clear separation)
between the agrarians and the govern
ment, saying that such a party had nc
season to be in Prussia where every
government for generations has beer
SolicitouS for the country'S ~agricultu.
raj interests; and that this class Of
politics has one about far enough HI
is particularly wroth at the way in
which the agrarian press has handlet
him and the cabinet
The leading agrarian journals ana
many conservative organs have beer
very outspoken.
The situation, as a whole, is that o
a drawn battle between his majest.
and the agrarians, the later meanin,
to demonstrate the ~permanency o
Prussia, even when h emperor, a
king, opposes them. All we~ll-informet
persons, irrespective of party, expec
that the emperor will be defeated IL
the end.