The contest in the German Reichstag has entered upon a
new phase. On Friday week the Emperor ended a speech at Gorlitz by saying that he desired for his people intellectual freedom, freedom of scientific investigation, and freedom of religion, "but not freedom to govern themselves as badly as they please." Count von Billow is apparently of the same opinion, and he has made a "transaction" with the Agrarians, the Roman Catholic Centre, and the National Liberals by which he secures, on conditions, a majority in the House. The con. ditions are an increase in the duties on cereals, and that the Tariff shall be passed at once en bloc. The bargain has created furious excitement among the Social Democrats, the Radicals, and the Industrials generally, who perceive that with the limited powers of the Reichstag voting cm bloc means the practical extinction of Parliament. The Reactionaries are delighted, and believe that the Social Democrats will now be put down by a sharp repressive Bill voted en bloc. Their hope is probably fallacious, but it is certain that the Emperor's power has been aggrandised by the Parliamentary coup d'elat, which will probably not be resented by the people. The agricultural majority approve the Bill, and even the urban electors, while disapproving it, are sick of the months of veiled obstruction by which it has been delayed. The new elections take place next June.
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