KAISER AND POPE.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 177, 21 April 1908, Page 7

KAISER AND POPE.

IN AGREEMENT. ; BULOW'S PILCRIMAGE TO ROME. THE REFRACTORY CENTRE. IT TELEGRAPH—'P3EBS ASSOCIATION—COPTBIGHt. Berlin, April 19. The Government journals aro making political capital out of Prince Bulow's interview .with tho Pope. ''< • The Opposition Press declares that the Popo prompted a demonstration against tie Centro Party in tho Reichstag. It is semi-oflicially announced that Prince Billow and the Pope are agreed upon a matter which is Germany's own affair. 'STATE .OF GERMAN PARTIES. Tho German Government occupies in some respects a most peculiar .position; that is to say, parties in (ho Reichstag are. divided in ah extraordinary, way. Conservatives,''; Liberals, and Radicals are ranged on the Government side ; the Roman Catholic Centre - and the Social Democrats form 1 the • Opposition. Each of these alliances is . heterogeneous, if not absolutely oil and, water. The acid and alkali parties grouped behind Prince Bulow have, little enough-of common aim, but it is said that the Roman .Catholic Centre and the Spcial Democrats; though united in opposition, have not one point of positive agreement. Speaking of the Catholic Centre itself, "The Times*' 6ays it is "united by-the bond of a common religion,,-and •. . contains representatives of the manufacturing, agricultural, official, ecclesiastical, and ilearned classes with a growing tendenoy towards democratic ideas." Its power lies in the fact that it is by far the largest political group in the Reichstag. . , -It has nevor shown any serious opposition to the : Dmperor's expansive polioy. ... On the other hand, the Social Democrats have idways opposed an ambitious foreign and colonial policy, and have devoted their whole energy to promoting morel or less visionary industrial ana social reforms." Notwithstanding their .losses at the. last'elections, the Social Democrats "still . represent more than a fourth of the total number of voters throughout Germany, and are the most coherent, and consistent party of all tho groups." In.'December Prince Billow's heterogeneous following showed a tendency to disintegrate; I lie Liberals becamo too sovero in their .candid friend" criticisms' to ' suit .'PriiVce Jiulow, 'and he threatened to resicrn./ This brought hia following-: to heel: effectively, and he came through the crisis 1 apparently with uying colours. ' Now",, it I would seem, he is strengthening his' -position by. 'under-mining the opposition of the Catholic Centre, that beinff the alleged object of his- mission to Home..Tho particular, snbjeot of anxiety is -v eXproP '' iatiue tho