| Show EXCITED GERMANY J thim THE domestic situation in germany 17 is critical political feeling has not run so high since the fall of bismarck h as at present though the dispatches do not state definitely the relations between the emperor and his mints minis yet it is plain that great dissatisfaction exists caprivi caprisi Ca the chancellor successor to bismarck is said to have resigned the resignation of zedlitz lz another minister is alleged to have been accepted the origin of all this excitement cap can be traced to the education bill now under consideration by the german parliament the emperor and his ministers this bill is a most abominable measure it is not adoue retrogressive in its character but it is tyrannical and brutal it designates about half a dozen religious sects and virtually makes of them state religions in some one 0 of these sects every child attending a common school must be educated no matter what the family belief of the child may be it is noticeable that the religious denominations strong enough to compel recognition are those mentioned in the favored list hat the weaker sects are worse than ignored they are actually compelled by the provisions of this bill to permit themselves to be quietly wallowed swallowed up 1 by the larger and stronger or be subjected to penal chastisement or to political and social disabilities in i short the bill stipulates that all eduna tion shall be controlled by the clergy of a few powerful denominations those thos of the lutherans Luth erans anti and B being the leaders it ft is little wonder that the german people are excited and it is not strange that many of the german ministers do not endorse the bill herr miguel the prussian minister of u finance opposed it when he found that no modification atthe of the clause could be obtained he resigned this started the agitation slid and the national liberals raised such a storm that william did actually try to effect a compromise this is where he stranded the tolerated sects are moravian quakers greeks greek anglicans jews and old lutherans Luth erans the roman catholics and lutherans Luth erans are of course the great state religions but in their benign spirituality they extend protection to these sects but ignore method its IMP old catholics unitarians deists feists and freethinkers free thinkers all of whom must be educated in one of f the above sects or leave the empire the situation in the german empire imp I 1 re is 16 really anomalous Despo despotic tig rule sustained by militarism exists side by side bide with the greatest intellectual pro gross gress and advanced enlightenment of the age the cry for political thrall ment is intense and earnest the emperor is erratic impulsive and precipitate the clergy are treacherous intriguing and thirsty for power the politicians are urging a system of state socialism which is gaining recognition there are miles of railroad in germany the state owns and operates 87 per cent of the mileage germany has a socialistic sy by tern tem of insurance sick benefits were paid in 1888 9 in over cases I 1 InI n workingmen were enjoying state insurance for accident and the sum paid to widows and orphans under the law jaw was there Is in also an old age insurance law jaw which went into effect january 1891 and was paid out outlast last year by the state to superannuated laborers in 1863 the socialists cast votes this vote has steadily increased since and d in 1890 it cast votes one fifth fifo of the total voting strength of the edi empire pire the clergy make poli political tiel capital of this and are hastening the crisis caisip victor hugo said of waterloo that it was not a french defeat but a change of front in the universe something similar may be said of germany today it is not a mere party broil that is in process it to is a complete revolution in german national that to is belag being inaugurated |
