The first ballot for the German Elections will have been
°taken before our next issue appears ; but the result will still be in doubt, as a second ballot will be necessary in an immense number of contests. This is most unfortunate for the Government, because the fractions beaten at the first ballot will coalesce to defeat it at the second. The extraordinary outburst of democratic feeling among the Catholics of Bavaria and the Rhine Provinces is also most unlucky for the Emperor, who thought he had greatly conciliated all classes of poor workmen. They however declare, we are told, that the Kaiser's annuity Bills make them "comfortable at seventy and uncomfortable now," which is, of course, roughly true. The "Agrarians," too, who control the peasantry, though favourable to the Military Bill, are wild at the Free-trade tendencies of the Government, and will abstain in great numbers. Altogether, the outlook for the Emperor is so bad that the German papers are begin- ning to discuss what he will do when beaten, and seem generally agreed that he will keep on dissolving until he gets an affirma- tive reply. That is not probable, as that would rapidly create a quarrel between Throne and people. It is much more pro. bable that the Emperor will adhere to the Military Bill, and take a second dissolUtion on some radical project of tax- reform.
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