Prince Bismarck has executed a voile-face. He has for some•
weeks been arranging some compromise with Herr Windthorst, and the Centre or Ultramontane party, and at last he has been: successful. That party, with its 120 Members in a House of 360, holds the balance of power, and it has recently joined the- Conservatives in supporting the Chancellor's Protectionist legislation. The change was at first concealed, though it was suspected, from Herr Windthorst's attendance at Prince Bis- marck's political suppers ; but the President of the Chamber,. Herr Forckenbeck, finding himself no longer representative of the majority, resigned, and the leaders of the new combination were obliged to show their hand. They elected Herr Von Seydewitz, an avowed reactionary, by 195 to 9, and it is now admitted that the Chancellor has formed a new party out of the Conservatives and Catholics, which gives him a large- majority in the Chamber. We have discussed the situation elsewhere, but must mention here that the Free-traders in Ger- many still seem to entertain a hope, the reason for which is entirely imperceptible outside.
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