The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1913-02-23
Proph ecies Of His
Downfall Are Heard
Everywhere.
EMPIRE SHOWING
SIGNS OF REVOLT
Feeling Grows That He Is Much
More Prime Minister of Prussia
Than He Is Chancellor of
All Ger1nany-Attitudc in
Balkan Tanglc Arouses
Hostility.

Herliu. February 22.-Onca more
prophecies arc heard everywhere pre-
dieting the fsll OF Herr won Bcthmann
Uollweg Chancellor OF the German
empire aud Prime Minister of Prussia.
no the bitterness against the imperial
government aroused by Gcrmany's di-
rlinlatic defeats in regard TO the Bal
kan crisis. when the Chancellor per
mitted the country to join In action
asainst Turkey, which could benefit
mis- Russia. comes the feeling that
t}ethmanu iioliwcC ut all times feels
himself much more Prime Minister OF
Prussia than Chancellor OF the whole
empire, aud Germans outside of Prus-
STA arc growing moro than tired of be-
iug always ruled by the naughty Prus-
slams. the most cordially hated people
"a ;he country.
The FIRST sign OF tho revolt against
the Chancellor and Prussian methods
was that fatal day when the mombers
81 the Catholic Centrum. the Socialists
and the Danes, while the Polish ques-
ton was being debated in the Reich
stag, succeeded in getting through 4
resolution expressing lack of confidence
in the government, who was accused.
IN The application Of the expropria ton
law, of having violated tho common
law and the Constitution of the en-
rirc.
Hcnvy Blow.
That the party of the Centrum voted
against the government was a heavy
blow to the Chancellor. as il shows de
nnitclH that the so-called blue black
block" which is his only support. is
rapidly disintegrating. and on other
questions which must soon come up
Herr Won Bethmann Hollweg will nnd
himself III the position OF a general
without an army.
He demands new army law from
the Reichstag which necessitates
Greatly increased expenditures. but
neither the chancellor nor anybody else
come from. He may, perhaps, in this
particular question, get the support
of tho Centrum. but it will then be
at the cost OF sacrifices which are
likely TO prove fatal for while it is
true that the Centrum as minority
holding the balance of power, may
play an important political part in tho
Reichstag. it is absolutely certain
that Germany as whole will not sub
nit 10 being ruled by the priests. as
is Bavaria All the parties in the
kcichstag would then bury all differ
ruces and combine against the "Bla ok =
Nn 'ultramontane" rule is an impos-
sibility in Germany, but so is also q
'junkcr' ruio. and as The time has
come when the empire will no longer
br dictated to by Prussia. Prussia will
have TO modify her policy to suit the
empire. and the first step must be to
extend tho lFrussian suffrage. The
question Is whether Rcthmann IIoll-
veg viii realize that here lies the i'm
pcrial centre OF gravity. around which
alone he may move Germany. Until
he does that ne VIII remain a play
ban between the Interests OF the
blacks and the 'Junl<erS."
Poland prus.ia.x ireland.
Poland Is Prussias ireland. ana tho
Polish question is as burning and in
terestinG TO Prussia as Is Ireland Ia
england. and it is a far more danger
ous one. For. while tho English gov
eminent has only small part OF
Ulster To fear, the Prussian govern
ment is afraid OF the possible success
OF the violent Grcat-Polish agitation
for there establishment Of n great king
d'n' OF Poland As il existed before
Austria, Prussia ANA Russia divided il
between ' tA.emseiyes in the eighteenth
The agitation is lighting the Ger
mari1ation policy Of the government
Tooth and nail by starting land banks
h'NSpapers. societies and so on and
the'r operations. backed up Of course
rs the Social Democrats, are spreading
!" ipper Silcsia which is one Of the
great coal producing provinces and
Vial for German industry in general
Auiouomy has becn often proposed fo,
The other Polish provinces of Prussia
lcseu and West Prussia. hut tn mis-
me governments cannot consent AS n
hostile roland which stretches 10
WitMn twenty miles Of Berlin, would
no idial 10 Germany in case of wv,
with kussia The whole problem Is a
""licatc and difficult one for Prussia
iNde'd Tor Germany, but what seems
most 10 stand i'm the way Of it's solu-
non NJ the rigid spirit Of prussian ad-
inlHisllahou ~ dealing with q people
'i totally different race religion
language. and. above all. tempcramnnt
F"rnaiN which until tho very last
moment had hoped ptat hostilitiee
ouid not he renewed ia The balkans
is now fearing that Russia is behind
ne whole thlne and that her plans are
much more far reaching than any o,o
mad supposed. 1t is feared MOI orly
hat Bulgaria may demand far NOR.
from Turkey than Adrianoplc and ibe
Islands IN tie ArchipcIaeo, but may
even take possession Of ConstantinouI.
WhAi adds 10 this fear is the fact that
ih" quarrel between bulgaria ana Ro,,.
lrania, from whcih $50 inuch had bee,
rouF
raots haSe como to light shown
That KouWauia not for a rnonorT
thought ~ ivadUp Bulgaria. and ina
F." Bulsaral itoEinauian alliance ~ II,
~" means inpr0bablc and this woul,
10 dreadful blow 10 o;ormanv. .s surj
au alliance would conlpleteK cut ,S.
Inc Of communication lctwecn nc,l,,
ard constsntirople
Nothing would. Of course. rl..,so ~.
Sia more, mud II must not he forcnt