New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-14
POLITICS IN GERMANY.
Socialist Victory at Elections Cut
Deep, Though Foretold.


r.-lin. Aug 27.-Despite sultry summer
-os-ber and the absence from town OF leading
s.e.es,nen and politicians. the boon OF equanim-
rv habituaIiy strong within Teuton bosoms.
rss not vet been restored to our political life
The results OF the last elections. astounding as
,bev were even in the eyes Of foreign nations.
hsve cut too deep. Ia fact one Of the amaz-
dig features was that the triumph Of Socialism,
soretold though II had been by many impartial
ohse-vers q our national Nfe. came utterly I'M
.xrected 20 Tho rank and file Of our politicians
They had never supposed that discomfort with
--e,afling conditions. more especially with the
,o-est policy OF government and the dominat-
,ng parties in the Reichstag and Prussian Diet
vas 80 deep seated and widespread. and that
his discomfort would sweep everything before
II n the enormous vote for Socialism on Elec-
zion Day Wrath. disappointment. surprise.
fo-ehodines. now mingle in the minds Of the
other political parties and their leaders: and.
after the manner OF German Journalism in such
cases. the whole press. daily and periodical is
sv-srriug with lucubrations explanations. coun-
sci and proqhesyings. doleful and unprofta BILE
vet mildly solacing 10 the bewildered spirits OF
the great public
Vet out II this vast chaos OF public opinion.
grievance. and half-expressed aspiration a few
things are gradually emerging that are slowly
assuming tangible form. 1 am sorry 10 say
that with one or two exceptions. they are
scarcely 10 he welcomed as tokens Of a fun
comprehension Of what this socialistic-or.
rather. in certain sense. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
means. or tho reactionary parties in Germany
chose that shaped our most recent events,
aims and legislative measures in politics.. the
so-oaIed Conservative party. made up and guid-
81 by the Junker element in the unprogressive
Of ra1 rlr
on one Of their old pet schemes to check and
counteract the onward march % the toiling le-
gons toward a completer recognition Of their
social and political rights
This pet scheme is the entire partial dis
tunchisement ~ the Ia boring classes such
Acknowledgement. for example. as finds perfect
practical expression in the Prussian election
laws that govern the results Of the elections for
the Diet the Provincial Chambers and the mu-
inequalities 81 Prussia. These antiquated cleo
lion laws-characterized by Bismarck himself
as the "elendeste aller Wahlsysteme" C'most
vretched Of all electoral systems'D dating from
the dawn Of Prussan parliamentarism, divide
electors into three classes, graduated solely &C
cording 10 the varying amounts tax receipts,
and give TO each class the same degree Of po-
tency in electinR representatives TO the Diet,
no matter how enormous the difference in num-
bere between one class and another.
So that. just 10 illustrate, the vote Of three
mllionaires in certain electoral district VIII
weigh as much in the final result that OF
seventy well-to-do electors in the second, or as
that Of seventy-ive thousand in the third class.
Besides. an those who pay either taxes at
all or whose taxes DO not reach a certain mimi
mum figure are shorn OF all electoral privi-
leges. And, then. these elections are held so as
10 force every elector TO publicly reveal his
hp~ lie which I will
here foreeo 10 mention. Altogether, this sys-
TEN indeed justihes Bsmarck's dictum. II has
been upheld in all fits pristine wickedness by
the ruling class in Prussia-the aforesaid
"Junkers"-for the sole and avowed purpose OF
perpetuating their rule. and is so upheld to-
day.
Wei. the purpose Of the reactionaries in Prus-
STA and other parts Of Germany is TO abolish
or emasculate the. existing Reichstag election
lav-which gives ballot Of equal power TO
each adult German Of good repute-into some
thing more or less analogous 10 the above
described monstrosty. Their plans have, how
ever leaked out rather early in the day. and
the chances Of carrying them out successfully
appear 10 me rather slim, especially the
Kaiser and the whole imperial government, de-
spite the panic into which the Socialist successes
a. the late election had thrown them, have not
thus far been prevailed upon 10 identify them
selves with this intrigue.
The publication Of this conspiracy. on the
other hand, has at last stirred UP not only
large part Of the ultramontane Centre casually
the suhserviont ally Of the "Junker' party.
who Tor party reasons OF their own disapprove
o. any such radical change hut the entire Left
the liberals and Radicals OF every stripe in
Guiding the Socalists-and as a counters troze
the motto has been given out. Down with the
Prussian electoral laws"
Indeed. a well planned campaign has been
set afoot pursued with vigor even during these
tomnoert. enervating August days. TO bring
ne pressure ~ overwhelming public opinion
throughout Germany TO bear on the Prussian
Government and on Prussia's ruling classes for
The ahndonment or sensible modification OF the
FrlsSian three class" electoral system. In this
campaign. 81 goes against a common foe. so
also has drawn closer together the whole OF
German liberal opinion. II has already had
one effect which was devoutly TO be wished for
me Improvement Of the various factions
composing the Liberal party-the National Lib
e~A The Barth faction FreisinnigeD. the Rich
'F faction O'olkspsrteD. and the South German
democrats. complete analgamation Of these
i'aeFai elements seems impossible German
1naNldualisn is too strong TO be thus entirely
O'eFcome. Put the mere probability Of an alli-
N-'e between these Liberal elements promises 10
"here lasting good during the coming quin-
S1enniai Rechstag session.
me only one of the more important new COM
"eloia treaties which Germany is trying 20
ieiuoe That al present is actively negotiated
-E Is the one with Russia. But there appear
/" ne more difficulties in the way than was at
-isi suspected. For Russia % course il Is
y supreme Importance 10 secure an ample out
m Germany for her agricultural surplus.
It