The debate on Thursday turned on Radical and Socialist motions
expressing dissatisfaction with the Chancellor's defence of the army officers. Only the Conservatives and one National Liberal attempted to rally to the rescue of the Chancellor. A united voice of anger came from the Centre as well as from the Radicals and Socialists. Herr von Bethmatur Hollweg attempted here and there to dilute some of his stronger arguments of Wednesday and to smooth away the indignation which had by no means decreased since the previous day. But he has no talents for this kind of task. He is even maladroit, and he hopelessly failed to conciliate the Reichstag. So great was the disturbance that over and over again he was compelled to stop speaking while the President restored order. In the end the motions of censure were carried by 293 votes against 54. Even among the Conserva- tives four deputies abstained from voting. The Reichstag is plainly in full revolt, and the opinion of the country is behind it. But, of course, there is no party system in Germany, and there is no such thing as the fall of a Government owing to an adverse vote. The Reichstag is only a very eminent debating society. The Chancellor is responsible not to the people, but to the Emperor. The vital question of the moment therefore is : What will the Emperor do He may read the writing on the wall and seize this great opportunity to abate the arrogance of the military class. Or he may try to vindicate the theory of military despotism, as he has regularly done in the past with complete success.
Previous page
