The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-02-15
GERMAN emperor
WILDLY CHEERED

BERLIN. Speeial.-A declaration in
favor of world peace was the most
striking feature of Emperor williams
address opening the ReichStaG today.
In view Of the fact that the socialists
hold the majority OF seats, the En-
peror's plea for universal peace was
regarded as peculiarly significant
However. in advocating amnesty with
the world at large, the War Lord ar
gued that the best means OF preServ-
ing peace with other powers was for
Germany TO strengthen her defensive
powers by increasing the army and
navy. - ..r q
In concluding his address the En-
peror said My policy Is directed
toward insurinE peaceful ~eta t-6ps Ne
tween all the powers upo. a 4 ,ip.'O-
cal basis OF este en- and god Will"
Carrying out their ideas Of democ-
racy. the socialists in thA ReichStag-|
lilo In numbcr-refuSed To assemble
at the palace before the session open
ed. Members of all other parties visit
ed the palace before entering the
Reichstag chamber.
When the Kaiser mounted the roS-
rum to formally proclaim the SEES
sion in order the deferential silence
known at the opening of other
ReichStags was conspicuous by its a b.
sence, and cheers broke forth from
both sides OF the vast amphitheater.
The conservatives of the right cheer
ed the Kaiser because he is the Kali
ser. and the liberals of the left gave
vent with shouts TO their eXultation
over the significance of the event.
which signalized their first official
existence as the real power in the
German Government.
on the radical side were the 10
socialists, 40 radicals and 46 national
liberals, making the total of the left
POS, which gives them 4 major " OF
thirteen over all the others. incGIding
the elericals OF the center. The az.
tional liberals are pledged by their
party platform TO support the CON
SerVatives and the Kaiser IN all mat
ters pertaining L. national defense.
the army and the Ian V. but N every
thing else they win back m the radi-
Gals and socialists. II eli r. prcsenta-
ton Of forty-siX mem be : Is sufficient
to throw the majority To ether side,
and accordingly th,S are the real
Possessors of the mailed fist in the
| Reichstag. Every measure they sup
| port is certain 10 be carried, as the
/ line that separates the other parties
| is definitely drawn and the different
parties viii vote in solid blocks for
or against every bill introduced.
Prominent Figures.
| a commanding figure in the assem-
biage was DR.. Ernst Bassermann, the
national liberal leader. II is he who
Reichstag by his mandates to the
members of his party. Herr Basser-
mann was cheered to the echo Whena
in his open carriage, he drove up to
the doors of the Reichstag Hall and
mounted the steps, and another ova-
ton awaited him within.
Another prominent figure received
with great acclaim was DR.. Karl Lieb-
knocht, the first socialist ever elect
ed by Potsdam, the Kaiser's home dis
election, defeated his conservative
opponent, the Burgomaster, OF Pots
dam, by 600 votes on the first ballot.
AS a result the Kaiser has threat
forsake Potsdam forever. This would
be a calamity from which the city
might never recover. Not only has
the Kaiser, his principal residence
there, but the Crown Prince and other
mem bers OF the royal family also
make Potsdam their headquarters.
All the crack regiments OF the army
are garrisoned at Potsdam. and the
Kaiser has declared that he Will re-
move them to avenge the rebun hand
ed him in the victory OF DR.. Lieh-
knocht. The latter Is one of the most
bitter enemies OF the Conservatives
He Is an eminent lawyer and recent
ly got into trouble with the govern
ment for denouncing the Prussian and
Hessian authorities for permitting the
Cars visit to Germany 10 take place.
lie. characterized the Russian Emper-
or as that representative OF bar
barOus. lawless and reasonable tyr
amy"
Less than a year ago. ne finished
serving an eighteen months sentence
! in fortress for anti militariSt prop
Uganda. DR.. I.iehknocht Is a con OF
one of the founders Of the Socialist
party. He In also a member of ~.
/ PruSsan Diet in addition TO m.
Relchstag Because II his extreme
| zeal I'm the cause ~ socialism " u,
1 considered certain thai he wound p.
made leader OF the party should ~
Socialists themselves ever becom.
strong enough to control q majority "
| he Reichetag without alliances viii
he IsibAfals and Radicals
Among the striking features of th'
composition 81 the new Rerhstag ~
the fact that the ClericaIs OF the Cen
tor for the Arst ttnse since 1881 are
-