New-York tribune., 1906-12-16
crRTOUS CRISIS IN GER
MANY.
-s,sc.si by French Cable to The Tribunal
1906, by The Tribune AssocistionI

.s
"a strife among extremists. Grave as is the
,-,ssle IN France over the enforcement OF the
s-..,ation law. the constitutional crisis In
many is even more serious While the dis
.,,,,ou Of the Reichstag has been ordered
insignificant colonial item in the sup
=. MIL the German Emperor and legislators
- Measuring their forces over the power of
s..s,ng how taxes shall be spent II the
-.,.bs.as cannot control expenditures It is
80 little more than debating society
90, this point OF view, liberal institutions
= -,enaced by the abrupt dissolution of the
n.,chstag on the other hand imperial inter
..s are sacrificed by factious opposition
- .he German Emperor represents IN the
sossest sense tie resources and power OF the
rs.herlan6 at home and abroad rather than
,.e pr.nciple OF irresponsible autocracy. The
,.n.-aI elections VIII prove whether his pres
,,e, Is impaired or whether he sttn commands
-. confidence OF his subjects II IS his most
..reuuous conflict, for the Clerical Centre is not
rrelv 20 lose single seat and the Socialists
I'll inevitably increase their poll at the ex-
r.nse os the liberal and conservative factions.
iesytns the extremists rather than the mod
rates IN control OF the next Reichstag
THE CONFLICT ~ ENGLAND.
IN England there IS analogous conflict with
m. Archbishop OF Canterbury making q des-
,s-ate EFFORT TO defeat the extremists by rally
,nr the Tnoderates and securing concord at the
las, moment Determinations natural when
neither party wants 20 face the responsibility
a, killing the Education bill
The government is reproached for returning
.be Lords amendments unopened at the dicta-
ton OF Dr. Clifford. and Mr.. Balfour Is
charged with slarnuing the door upon a COM
promise for the sake of partisan advantage
when Mr.. Birreu had shown IN his conciliatory
sneech how an agreement could be reached.
Probably Mr.. Birrell was overruled in the Cab
met on the method OF procedure IN dealing with
the amendments, but the decision os the Law
LORDS IegaIzing the Balfour act without doubt
increases his eagerness TO obtain a reasonable
settlenent Mr.. Balfour must have consulted
the natural peacemakers the Duke OF Devon
shire. Lord Goschen and Lord St Idwyn. be-
fore making his provocative speech. The duke
has gone 10 Chatsworth. and the leading Peers
are making the usual weekend visits Appar-
entity there IS tn .rreconcilabl bic conflict between
The two houses. yet the Archbishop and Mr..
BirreN laboring patiently to bring about the
compromise which the King and the nation ar
deutly desire. The attitude OF the Irish party
n separating from the Duke Of Norfolk and
the Catholic Peers is helpful IN promoting
the ends OF peace, but the Issue is doubtful
The Cabinet viii stand Il is until the open
ing of the next session Of Parliament The
-uEors that Lord Ripon will retire are as
premature as IS the report that MI Bryce will
accept peerage Lord Ripon's successor Il
he decides against accepting the post OF am
bassador az Washington. Mr. Bryce likes the
Irish Office and has his scheme of adrninistra-
tive reform well In hand Winston Churchius
friends are more eager to put him IN the Irish
Orce than he is 10 undertake the thankIess lob
he does not forget that the colonial conference
comes next spring and that he Will be a prori-
nent figure II Il as under secretary, with q
fine opportunity OF showing what the liberals
can do with imperial policies.
TRAESVAAL CONSTITUTION.
The Transvaai constitution, which Mr.
Churchill VIII explain next week is grounded
upon LORD Miners foundations II does not
differ materially from MI Lyttelton's draft
and eInbodies the principle that the number of
voters rather than the population shall be the
basis o. representation The Britons in the
Rand could control the Transvaal government
Il they were united. They are. however. divided
into TWO factions. whereas the Beers stand to-
gether. Il is probable the TransvaaI Will be
governed by coalition similar 10 the bond
hy which Cape Colony administered when
Lore Miner became high commissioner. II is
not clear that Chinese labor VIII be abolished
under the new constitution Apparently the
colonial government when formed can enact g.
labor ordnance similar to the present one and
there VII be no imperial veto. The colonial
legislature is not likely 10 begin fits career by
running the gold industry, whether the Beers
of the Br7tons are on top. Lord Miners states-
rnanlike speech at Manchester brings him TO
NE centre OF the political stage as the natural
successor Of Mr.. Chamberlain whenever a new
4eaoe= IS needed by the imperialists. It is a
proaorinded plea for the political and CONNER
cal consolidation Of the empire and for social
reform. While he does not emphasize the taxa
ton OF food. he favors preferential treatment
ot the states forming the empire and something
Ike q family council for the management of i'm
perial interests.
CONGO REFORMS
Mr Carter is conducting the American En-
hsssy with energy and tact in the absence of
the Ambassador. He has submitted the State
DEPARTMENTS communication respecting Congo
reforms. As is evident from Sir Edward Greys
sympathetic remarks in Parliament, American
1ho British opinions are IN complete accord on
us question The annexation of the Congo
free State by Belgium is not the solution which
VII satisfy the refor.ners. Bishops Hartzell
ano Burt starting to-day for a prolonged
circuit OF inspection OF the American Methodist
missions in Africa. From Madeira they will
saA 10 Liberia and thence 10 the Portuguese
settlements in the South Congo and East Africa.
They will make long halt in Rhodesia, and
VII return in the spring. when Bishop Burt has
Judgements with conferences in Southeastern
Europe Bishop Hartzell Will attend the re-
Aglous congress AT Rome and then accompany
BISHOP Burt on a round OF inspection OF the
methodist missions in Europe
SOCIAL MATTERS AND THE DRAMA