The Liberals in Germany proved firm in their rejection of
the expulsion clause in the Bill intended to make anti-Socialist legislation permanent. They conceded permanence on Thurs. day week, but rejected the clause which enables the police to expel any Socialist from any centre of population. The Con- servatives thereupon declared the Bill absurd, and on Satur- day, joining the Liberals, threw out the whole Bill by 169 to 98. Parliament was dissolved on the same day, and it was expected that the Emperor would allude to this clause in his speech ; but he did not, contenting himself with expressing warm approval of the help the Reichstag had given him in ameliorating the condition of the poor, and with promising to continue that kind of legislation. We have said enough on the subject elsewhere, but may mention here that the Socialists hope to win twenty-five seats in the February elections, and thus break up the Government majority in the House. They will probably only force on a new coalition of parties determined to support Prince Bismarck; but they say that they are certain, having lost twelve or fourteen seats at the last election only through a war-panic, which this time will not affect the
voting. It is noted that Prince Bismarck stayed away from the grand ceremonial of the dissolution, and whispered that he advised a rebuke to the Liberal Deputies which his more dignified master refused to utter.
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