NEWS OF THE WEEK.
GENERAL CAPRIVI has made his first official speech. The new Chancellor of Germany is also Premier of Prussia, and he made an address on Monday to the Prussian Diet. He disclaimed all idea of laying down a programme, arid denied that the Emperor hoped to inaugurate "a new era," the intention being to continue the old policy with the old men. He admitted, however, that the mighty personality of Prince Bismarck had suppressed many men and many ideas, and the Government would now allow them to come forward, rejecting the bad proposals, but promoting the realisation of the good. He was con- vinced that the edifice "reared by the genius, iron will, and intense patriotism of Prince Bismarck" would last, and thought it a dispensation of Providence that just as he retired, the personality of the Emperor was "so well fitted to fill up the gap and cover over the crack." He hoped, there- fore, that he should find in the Diet a spirit of readiness to support and co-operate with the Government. This speech, the full significance of which we have endeavoured to explain elsewhere, gave great pleasure to both the Liberal and Centre parties, and created a momentary impression abroad that the young Emperor had suddenly become "constitutional." That, however, is not the case. He is only modern in his ideas about internal policy, and sees no occasion to sit upon the safety-valve of discussion. He can govern, he thinks, without reducing his Parliaments to silence, and General Caprivi, who is a ready and felicitous speaker, thinks so too.
