The German Reichstag was opened on Wednesday, the 14th inst.,
in a speech by the Emperor, the object of which is to defend his conduct in sending an expedition to China with- out waiting for the consent of the representatives. His pleas are that the occasion was urgent, and that the expense was too uncertain to allow of an official estimate. The federated Governments of the Empire were, however, fully consenting parties to the enterprise. The German public is by no means contented with this explanation, even loyalists remarking
that as the Emperor expresses confidence in the support of his people, to summon their representatives would have caused little delay. The dissatisfaction is not decreased by an official admission that 150,000.000 marks (£7,500,000) have already been expended, and by a widespread belief that neither the Emperor nor his advisers know how much more may, be required. Tens of millions of marks mean much to Germans who are heavily taxed already, who are not quite sure that the Chinese indemnity will not be expended on yet more forces, and who even when devotedly loyal wish to have a word in the expenditure of their own money. The Emperor will get his vote of course, he always does, but there will be sharp debating and more Socialists.
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