The German Parliament was opened on February 12th, the Vice-Chancellor,
Count Stolberg, reading the Emperor's speech. It was unusually long, and explained that, although the Govern- ment felt bound, in view of the strength acquired by neighbour- ing nations, to increase the German Army, still the policy of the Empire was to maintain peace, upon the basis generally of the Treaty of Berlin. The Reichstag was further asked to continue the anti-Socialist Laws for six more years—till March 31st, 1886, the Times' correspondent says—and informed that a ',pro- ject for taking the Budget biennially would be laid before it. The excuse for this project, in itself true, is that the sittings of the imperial and the local Parliaments overlap, and inflict great toil upon the Members who happen to sit in both, a very large proportion. The speech wound up with the asser- tion that since unity had been achieved, "the pacific tendencies of the German people have become thoroughly manifested,"—
which, if it be pacific to compel all nations to arm to the teeth,. is unquestionably correct. Some new tax is threatened in the speech, but it is not described, and it is said that it will be an income-tax, operating for three years upon all persons who, from any cause, are exempt from the military or naval con- scription. Whether women are included is not yet known.
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