The Emperor may, however, be sorely wanted in Berlin. The
Reichstag reassembled on Tuesday, and there are at least three subjects on which the Government will seek votes that it may not be easy to secure. There is the Navy Bill, upon which the Centre has as yet pronounced no opinion, and the rejection of which may involve a Dissolution. There must be a vote approving the acquisition of Samoa and legal- ising expenditure upon the islands, and the Colonial party may object to the compensation granted to Britain; while the "Penal Servitude Bill" for suppressing strikes will arouse the Socialists to fury, and probably alienate all Liberals. The Emperor does not like defeat, and he has now so arranged his affairs that his personal intervention is needed to carry any unpopular or doubtful measure. If the Emperor is supposed to be indifferent, all who dislike the Ministry or the measure take courage, and the Bill is certain to be thrown out. This process is so well understood that, as we recently noticed, many of the Centre wish to vote against the Government merely to show that Germany is still governed by an effective Parliament.
Previous page
