Prince Bismarck has had a very severe rebuke. The German
Chancellor had requested permission from the Reichstag to prosecute the two Socialist Deputies, Herren Hasselmnnn and Fritsche, who were expelled Berlin, for returning to take their seats. Herr Lasker pointed out that they returned in virtue of the Emperor's invitation to all Deputies, and defended, in a speech said to have been most brilliant, the inviolability of the Deputies, as part of the freedom of Parliament. The Deputies, aware that if they surrendered their privilege they might all be deported one by one, rejected the request almost unanimously ; and passed also, though not unanimously, a resolution, proposed by Dr. Rickert, declaring that the anti-Socialist Bill was not intended to authorise the prevention of a Member from taking his seat, even when expelled from the capital by a police decree. Even a worm will turn when trodden on, and Prince Bismarck treads on the Reichstag very heavily. It is said that Prince Bismarck disregards the vote, as he intends to dissolve in order to carry his Protectionist scheme, but every blow of this kind weakens his Parliamentary influence. Note that Count Stolberg, who is believed to be Prince Bismarck's political heir, strongly supported the request.
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