THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 13857, 21 March 1907, Page 8

THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.

DEFEAT OF THE SOCIALISTS, ' TIIE POLICE AND THE CROWD. The Beriin cdrresiiondcnt ol the London Morning Leader, writing on January 27. states Tho Kaiser has got his wish. Tlio birthday prevent laid on his breakfast table this morning by the nation is tho disastrous defeat of Socialism in the first balloting for tho members of the new Reichstag. Thirty Socialist members were elected, as compared with 55 who were successful in the first ballots at the last, election in 1903. They have lo contest 92 constituencies in the second ballot- on February 5 next, whereas in 1903 they participated in tho second balloting of 122 constituencies. In tho fight. Tor these 122 divisions, the Socialist, candidate obtained a majority in omy ?.i cases, and as now all the National parties will bring every effort to bear against them, it is very doubtful if they will bring their total of members in the new ltciehstair up to 50. Tho Socialists have been definitely ousted from 20 constituencies, among liiem such Socialist strongholds as Koenigsberg, Madgeburg, and (Jotha (where they have, been defeated by the hereditary Prince von Hohcnlohe Langcnburg, late Director of the Colonial Department), Leipzig, Brcslau, Reichonbael'. Pima, Halle, etc., many of tho constituencies being largely populated by working' men. They .have also practical!;,' no prospect in tho second balloting at Stettin, Bremen, Dresden, Annaberg, and they may loso in Munich, Stuttgart, ami RencMxir!*. Vonvaerts admits defeat, anil admi's that it comes as a great surprise to tho leaders of tlio party, who have for years lseen accustomcil to reckon only with vie-

11l spile of the dcarnosj of meat, in. spito of excessive tariffs and new taxes, in spite of tho prevalent discontent at tho Imperialist regime, in spito of the disgust at. the colonial policy of ihc present Government. they teem to have lost the eontidcnce of the electors. CAUSE OF DEFEAT. Vorwacrts attributes the Socialist defeat to Hie fact that Liberalism has ceased to l>e a democratic oppositional party, and on its regeneration lias sided with the Conservative Governmental party in favour of reaction.' It urges all Socialists not to lose courage, to pull themselves together for the second ballots, and immediately to renew their agitating efforts in favour of party principles, which it ie confident will still 'ultimately win. The Government is jubilant over its victory, and its press talks grandly about the continuance on broader lines of the colonial and'world policy it has inaugurated. The party which has gained at the expense of the Socialists, however, is in the first place the Radicals. The National Liberals iiavo also achieved a groat success, in that they have 18 members elected in the first ballot instead of five as in 1903, but it is the spirit of Radicalism that has mado most progress. i, The organs of this new-born party by no means support Prince Bulow's dreams. They insist in straightforward terms on the prosecution of a moro liboral policy at home, and tell the Chancellor that ho will now have to reckon with an awkward democratic spirit, which means to make itself felt in legislation. Demands for the entire cessation of personal government and for the gradual introduction of pure constitutionalism are advanced as Germany's most crying need, though on all hands it is asserted that the people are not anti-,monarchical, but have full confidence in their Kaiser. LESSON FOR THE KAISER. It is already stated that the Kaiser lias seen the error of his ways, and has recognised that his impulsive, unofficial appearance in.the arena of polities is detrimental to tho best interests of Germany.

The Centre party is returned in its previous strength, and although the Chancellor may boast that/lie has a majority among the Conservatives and Liberals for national purposes, it is clear that the presence of a party 80 or SO strong in the Reichstag cannot but have a weighty cli'ect. . ' It is evidently the revolutionary ideas recently adapted by Socialism that ha.vc led the country to disavow it, and the Opposition, which has hitherto supported it, now feels strong enough to sta-nd on its own feet. It is probable that the second ballots will not' very much alter the relative strength of the parties, and the new Reichstag, . while representing the national spirit, will insist on the prosecution of a national policy founded on a moro liberal regime. Princo Billow will probably get without a murmur the money for securing predominance in tho colonies and whatevor ho needs for their proper development. There will also not bo muoh difficulty in obtaining funds for tho fleet, so long as it is clcar that this is intended for the defence of German possessions. But tho new Reichstag will oppose what the Socialists call the boundless plans for the new world policy, and it seems probable that Germany is entering on a period in which more attention will be paid to tho improvement of the situation within tho Empire than to ideas of Imperialist aggrandisement. CROWD CHASED BY POLICE. The semi-official Norddeutscho Allegemeino Zcitung last, evening gave prominence to tho following statement, adds Router:— "A 1 regrettablo incident occurred yesterday evening, when a large number of electors, who wero. attempting to show beforo the palace of the Crown Princo their patrlotio delight at the triumph of national sentiments at ilio polls, were driven off by tho police as they were about to start a song. Tho police are said to have used drawn swords, and to have made somo arrests. "We learn that the Imperial Chancellor is at ono with tho Minister of tho Interior in condemning tho behaviour of the police, if the statements which have been mado are true. The Minister of tho Interior immediately opened an inquiry into tho matter." An eye-witness of tho incident, writing to the Tagcblatt, declares that the Crown Prince appeared at the window and o|>oned it. Silence ensued, as the crowd believed that his Royal Highness was about to make a. spccch. At this moment policemen appeared on the scene from all sides. Tho writer adds: "Wo wanted to march off, and just when I was about to start singing ' Dentschland Ueber Alios,' I got blow in tho face. At the eamo time a friend near mo was knockcd down. All (his happened while the Crown Prince stood at tho window."