1. Essays From “Deutsche Wochenschrift”

December 30, 1887–January 5, 1888

The official New Year's receptions, as are customary in Berlin, Paris, Pest, etc., have contributed to some extent to calming people's minds about the general situation. Speeches were made almost without exception which more or less confidently expressed the hope for the preservation of peace, and even if the present conditions were by no means described as very pleasant, it was emphasized that the times had not yet become so serious that the solution of the present entanglements was only possible through war. Of course, such remarks are of little consolation, and in view of the military events in Russia, which are striking and unusual in every respect, it is impossible to refrain from worrying about the future. The most important of the political New Year's speeches was the one with which Prime Minister v. Tisza returned the congratulations of his party. This year, as every year, the members of the Liberal Party had gathered at Tisza's house to congratulate him, and in response to a heartfelt speech by Count Bela Bänffy, the Prime Minister began by thanking the gentlemen, saying that he was aware that the flag of liberalism would always be held high in his fatherland. Progress in the country could not be denied, and the Hungarian state was growing stronger from year to year. The settlement of finances would also succeed if the world situation was not disturbed. "But," added Mr. v. Tisza, referring to external politics, "the condition is one that no one can stand for. For my part, I do not join those - and I say this quite sincerely - who regard the danger of war as imminent. I still hope today that we will escape this danger... I do not consider it justified to speak in the tone of the pessimists, but, even if I hope for the better, I would again consider it a mistake to spread optimism, because optimism often paralyzes the power of resistance which, I hope not, but which we may nevertheless need". As you can see, Tisza's language is as cautious as possible. At the Vienna Stock Exchange, his speech initially caused a real scare, as the Telegraph Correspondence Bureau had omitted the word "not" in the most important passage: "I, for my part, do not join those ....", and prices fell sharply. Once the correction had been made, the shares recovered again.

A peaceful sign is also interpreted as Kaiser Wilhelm's repeated remark at the reception of the German generals that the main focus of their attention this year would be the imperial maneuvers. But even this statement is no assurance that all danger can be eliminated. And so Europe is approaching a time that is uncertain and dark, and Russia will have to give other proofs of her love of peace than she has done so far before her neighbors can once again devote themselves more carefree to their internal affairs.

The German "Reichsanzeiger" published the forged documents which were handed over to the Tsar in order to convict German politics of dishonesty. These were alleged letters from Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria to the Countess of Flanders, which turned out never to have been written by the Prince, and which included a forged letter from the German ambassador in Vienna in which the official support of the German Empire was promised to the Prince.

The fiftieth anniversary of Pope Leo XIII's ordination to the priesthood, which was celebrated on December 31, was celebrated in splendid fashion, and delegations from all parts of the world traveled to Rome with gifts to pay homage to the head of Christendom. Most of the European monarchs were represented by extraordinary envoys. Only the pope's unpleasant relationship with Italy added a note of discord to the festivities, and Leo XIII believed he should not refrain from attacking the Italian kingdom in a speech. The mayor of Rome, the Duke of Torlonia, was dismissed from office by the government because he had had the congratulations of the municipality conveyed to the Pope without a commission.

There has been a change of minister in Serbia. After Ristic was dismissed following a conflict with the Radical Party, the King formed a new ministry with Sava Gruitsch as Prime Minister and Minister of War and Colonel Franassovic as Minister of Foreign Affairs. The new government fully adopted Milan's pro-Austrian policy.

A few days after the New Year, Baron Paul Sennyey, President of the House of Lords and Judex cutiae, known as the "Black Baron" in his day as the leader of the Conservatives, died in Hungary. Sennyey had long been an avowed opponent of Tisza, but he no longer played a prominent role as an active politician in recent years.

Let us also remember the anniversary celebrated by The Times on New Year's Day: on 1. January marked one hundred years since it first appeared under its present title, and it was with not unwarranted pride that the City paper, the largest and most influential newspaper in England and the world, could look back on the hundred years during which it has served public opinion.