The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-13

uaTy $-draws near, speculation becomes
rife as to the hopes OF Chancellor Won
Buelow and his policy. It IS ever recalled
that his attempts to concentrate the dis
turbed political elements OF the German
empire have failed so far Yet It can De
stated upon good authority that he still
reckons on the possibility that the next
Reiehstag may contain a majority more
satisfactory, from his point OF view. than
the last Parliament
As the national campaign approaches
its elimination its issue becomes more
doubtful than ever. Attempts to form
combinations and counter-combinations
among the thirteen little parties into
which the German electors are divided
result chiefly in confusion.
/ The strongest influence on the govern
ment side has been the able speech yes
terday Of Colonial Director Dernburg.
This has somewhat Offset Chancellor Won
Buelow's mistaken manifesto OF last
week. which offended everybody. his own
! supporters included.
| Evidence muitiplies Of the Kaiser's in
tense concern over the crisis. but there
/ IS no indication as to what mis- course
Will be IN case Of defeat Il IS freely as
serted that he will continue to carry out
his own will by coups d'etat. but it must
/ be remembered that he has shown his
/ capacity TO resort TO compromise on other
occasions when he has come into serious
conflict with the popular will
The Cltramontanes, Social Democrats,
and Poles altogether numbered in the last
/ Reiehstag 100, as against the los Of all the
other parties. The minority. however.
contained twelve or fifteen deputies. Asa
tians, GuelDhs, and other maleontents,
who frequently, but not always. opposed
the government, so that, if the Ultra
montanes and Social Democrats together
lost eighteen or twenty seats. Prince Bue-
low could face the new Reichstag with
equanimity.
The chancellor, however, is fully aware
Of the danger that the next Relchstag
may contain a still greater majority Of
anti-imperial parties, so that the govern
ment would be faced with a hostile Par
lament which would systematically OBJ
struct its policy In this case it is in
tended that there shall be no surrender
and no compromise, but a bitter struggle.
II the next Reichstag obstructs the
governments colonial policy or other
measures involving great national inter
ests. it will be speedily dissolved and
another appeal made for the nation 10
elect a more patriotic Parliament If
that Reichstag is again stubborn, there
viii be yet another dissolution and yet
another appeal to the electorate.
Prince Buelow. in brief. faces the pos
sibility Of successive conflicts between
the government and the Reichstag. fol-
lowed in each case by dissolution and ap-
peal TO the nation Considering the
strength Of the subversive forces at work
in Germany. this is a courageous resolve,
and reveals Prince BuelOw in a new light.
Hitherto Prince Buelow has been the
embodiment Of amiability. He has main
tanned his position and held together the
majority in the Reiehstag favorable 10
his policy By skillful diplomacy. In his
dealings with the various party leaders he
was always couciliatCry. even TO the point
OF weakness. The new BuelOw is a chan
ceilor OF iHdJmitablc courage, who is re-
o''NrN ~ A--N''N as ei-~' : ~~- pm O. al
costs.
It is semi-ofhcially reported from
Christiania that the negotiations among
the powers concerning the conractual
integrity, neutrality, and independence Of
Norway are progressing. There IS a fair
chance that Il conference for the purpose
may before long assemble in Paris. There
are for the moment certain reservations
OF the part Of the Russian government
respecting some points contained in the
programme that has been submitted 10
me powers. There Is, however, TO cause
20 apprehend that any definite obstacle
viii be raised on any side.
According 20 information from Sofia. the
Bulgarian government intends to ask the
So6ranja for authorization % buy the
Bulgarian section OF the orient Railway.
an ambition of long standing. II is pos
sible that the session may be prolonged,
in order TO discuss the proposal for the
loan conversion. A decision on this point
nay. however. be referred 20 an extra
spring session. rs British offers have late
Iy been received, whereas the competition
was originally French.
An imperial ukase. published in the St
Petersburg official Messenger, unimpOr-
tant In itself, but highly symptOmatic.
shows for the first time such an ordinance
Cazetted with the ministerial countersign.
the EmperOrs signature being followed
by IL Stolypin's. with the prefix -skre-
pil. which means strengthened" or in
III -s,T e.
provided for IN the organic laws but up
to the present it has not been reproduced
by the Official Messenger. To the Russian
mind, accustomed to bestow great atten-
ton TO formulas, this innovation conveys
a profound meaning.
The proposal favored by the NovOe
vremya. of ST Petersburg, that, in
view Of the expected delay in the assem-
bling OF the Donna the Upper House
should be convoked in the meantime,
meets with vigorous opposition from all
the constitutional organs But not even
the opposition organs believe that NJ.
StOlypin IS privy to a scheme to post
pone the Douma indefinitely The pre-
InieF's organ, the ROssiya. Tidicules the
allegations that NJ Stolypin is in league
with the union of the Russian people
Such d Reputation was scarcely needed
No unprecedented person could Venture TO
suppose that NJ Stolypin would allay
himself with a horde of obscurantists and
hooligans. Sundays meeting Of the Union
of the Russian People, at which the rab-
bic of the streets combined with clergy
and guardsmen in vulgar objurgations
against the manifesto Of October 30 has
Disguised even the reactionaries- Letters
appear IN the press protesting against
such a disgraceful exhibition. and espe-
ciaily against the dishonor 10 the church
and the Emperor's uniform entailed there