25 JANUARY 1890, Page 2

The Prussian Government continues its crusade against Socialism. It has

a Bill now before the Reichstag making the anti-Socialist laws permanent, and the Bill, severe as it is, will be voted with only one amendment. The permanence of the measure was voted by 166 to 111, but the National Liberals object to the clause enabling the Government to expel Socialists, as inflicting excessive and needless hardship on individuals, and entrusting too much power to the police. There is a doubt whether Prince Bismarck will bear even this emendation; but as he will lose his Bill if he does not, he will probably hear reason. It is said that the Emperor has come to take a most serious view of the Socialist danger, and that he will during the coming elections make an appeal to the patriotism of the whole German people to aid him in putting such opinions down. He will find, we fear, that Socialism is too nearly a religion to be put down in that easy way.