The Washington herald., 1909-07-18
By Ex-ATTAcHE.

Emperor Williams choice OF q sue
cessor 10 Prince Buelow has been in
fueneed by the necessity OF finding a
statesman possessing some prospects OF
securing legislative sanction for the
measures devised by the government for
the solution OF the financial crisis. The
latter still continues. TO put the matter
briefly. the empire stands committed. by
laws already passed, TO an additional an
nual expenditure Of over Sl00,0oo.OO0, with
out having the funds for the purpose.
These Il has been proposed to raise by a
reorganization OF the finances OF the en-
pire, and by the enactment Of new taxes,
distributed in an equitable measure be-
tween the agricultural, the manufac-
turing. and the commercial classes.
Prince Buelow has found 1t impossible to
reconcile these three interests. and the
.hopelessness Of his being able 10 obtain
from the Reichstag its consent 20 his
financial scheme. has led him TO resign
the chancellorship.
Il IS probable that the new chancellor.
Theobald Won Bethmann-H -Hollweg. will be
more successful For he enjoys the con-
a5ence Of the Parliament OF the empire.
which is more than can be said Of
Buelow. The prince has always been
handicapped in the eyes Of the Reich
stag by his fund Of humor. and By his
genial eynIcism. It's members look upon
him as "ein frivoler Mensch, that Is 20
say, a frivolous man, which is descrip-
ton that is altogether damning in the
estimation Of most Germans, Implying, as
It does, an absence not only Of serious
ness, but also sincerity. Then, too, he
has no trace Of sentimentality, which Is
SO Distinguishing a trait Of tne Teuton
character. nor could any one be less OF
a doctrinaire than this grandson Of the
famous Alexander Won Humboldt He
openly SCOTS at altruisn, and has no
sympathy whatever with wild goose
chases for the benefit of humanity, or
with any other QuixOJic undertakings.
His parliamentary uttersnces have al
ways been more entertaining than con-
vincing. They are marked by delicate
irony, by epigrams by bonmots. and by
a wit. savoring OF Paris, rather than OF
Berlin. But, whereas all this would ap-
peal 10 people of the Latin race. It creates
in German breasts a suspicion OF diplo-
matte artifce. rather than of a serious
devotion TO the best interests Of the
nation.
Dr. Won Bethmann-Hollweg is a man Of
an entirely different stamp and far bet
ter qualified 70 deal with the Reichstag.
the respect OF which he has acquired as
minister OF. the interior. He has none OF
the nimble wit and the graces Of oratory
OF Buelow. He has never attempted 10
shine as a racOntsur, conveys The i'm
preston Of being more prone TO gravity
than 10 merriment. and. thanks 10 this.
has succeeded in convincing Parliament
Of the absolute sincerity Of his speeches
The latter, though plain and brief. are
lucid, abounding In substance. IN fact.
IL IS doubtful whether the Emperor could
have found any one better qualified 10
win over the Reichstag TO his financial
views, and to his ideas OF domestic
policy, than his old university classmate
and fellow-Borussisn, Theobald Won
-Hollweg.
While the Kaiser has undoubtedly ap-
pointed him 10 succeed Prince Buelow, in
consequence Of his being more likely
than Gen. Count Wedel, Prince Radolin,
Prince Fuerstenberg. or any Of the other
men mentioned in connection with the
chancellorship, 10 secure the sanction OF
the Reichstag 10 the project Of the gov
ernment, yet IL must not be assumed
the written or unwritten laws Of the
constitution, 70 consult the wishes of
Parliament In making the nomination.
In England, for instance. in France and
in italy. indeed, In most countries en-
1oying- constitutional form Of govern
ment, the ruler is restricted in his choice
Of a premier, 70 the leaders of the social
party commanding the legislative major
ity- In Germany, however, the Kaiser
is theoretically and consttutionally IN
trammeled in his choice Of the chancellor.
who is, TO all intents and purposes, the
prime minister Of the empire William
is not required TO consult either Parlia-
ment or Federal Council. nor even 10
defer IN the matter, to his fellow sover-
eigns Of the confederation, among whom
as Emperor, he is primus inter pares.
The chancellor, holding his appointment
solely from the Emperor, Is accountable
wholly and entirely TO the latter; and
In the past the Kaiser has left his chan
celloTs free TO maneuver as they saw NJ
with the various factions Of the Reich
stag. as long as legislative majorities
were secured by some means OF another
for the measures 10 which parliamentary
sanction was Indispensable.
sss'
Prince Bismarck, Count Caprivi, Prince
HohenIohe. and more recently. Prince
Buelow. have each Of them allied them
selves, first with one political party and
then with another; not by reason Of any
community Of principles or Of views, but
solely as a matter Of expedieney; that
is 10 say, in order 10 obtain its support
10 some government bill And often
times this suppose has constituted a
subject Of barter. and the Center party.
which practically represents the Roman
Catholic interests. has been able to obtain
many concessions Of the church. and 70
the latter's religious orders IN return for
its legislative assistance
Prince Bismarck repeatedly proclaimed,
IN the most brUtally outspoken fashion,
while chancellor. that he belonged 10
none OF the political parties. that he had
no use for them or for their aspirations.
excepting In so far that he needed their
approval 70 the measures, which, under
the terms Of the constitution. their sane
ton was necessary. OF course. this has
mad the effect Of sapping the confidence
OF the Reichstag in the chancellor
Each party realized that the Reich
skanzler was Indifferent 10 its aims and
wishes, that his sole purpose was 10 get
the government bills through. no matter
by what means. In fact, there was an
absolute lack OF mutual sympathy and
confidence, ard this goes far to explain
why. during the space Of twenty years.
no less than five chanceIlors should have
succeeded one another at the palace in
the Wilhelmstrasse. at Berlin.
The Emperor realizes the drawbacks Of
this condition of affairs. and it is for this
reason, more than for any other, that
ne has consented 70 the retirement OF
Prince Buelow. and TO the appointment OF
Won Bethmann Hollweg. who just be-
cause he Is not a diplomat and not a
courtlsr stands in the almost UNIQUE