Prince Bismarck has had another Parliamentary triumph. He refused recently
to allow municipal reform to be extended to the great cities, where there are no country gentlemen to direct the electors, and compelled his colleagues in the Prussian Administra- tion to give way. The Liberals aceordingly endeavoured to censure him, but a section of their number, believing that reform would in many Catholic cities give power to the Ultramontanes, deserted the party, and the Chancellor obtained a moderate majority. It is probable that Prince Bismarck was much more influenced by dread of the increase of popular feeling in cities, than by fear of the Ultramontanes ; but it seems certain that he has conquered, and that Count Eulenberg, who refused to yield, has received six months' leave of absence in consequence. Count Eulenberg had offered his resignation, and the King's re- fusal to receive it seems to show that on this, as on so many points, he yields to the all-powerful Minister, without consider- ing his conduct in refusing to his colleagues any independence either expedient or just.
