17. Essays from "Deutsche Wochenschrift"

The Week of April 18-25, 1888

The first week of the Austrian budget debate is over. Its course was more turbulent and stormy than the calm and perhaps resigned tone of the first speakers had led one to expect. Even the speech by Dr. Gregr, a member of parliament, provoked a sustained movement due to its passionate, anti-government policy. But it was left to Dr. Lueger, this democrat from case to case, to provoke a scandal with his ugly suspicions of the Left, the like of which has rarely been seen even in this House of Representatives. Under the impression of a most undignified scene, the House proceeded to the vote on the disposition fund. The still doubtful votes of the Coronini Club now joined with those of the opposition and the Young Czechs, some Poles did the same, and the disposition fund was brought down. However, Count Taaffe quietly remained minister.

On the 23rd, the meeting between Emperor Franz Josef and Queen Victoria of England took place. Not only the Austrian, but also the German and English newspapers devoted extremely sympathetic reports to it. The same applies to the Queen's visit to Charlottenburg and Berlin.

The news about the health of the German Emperor Frederick is more favorable again and raises the hope that he will survive the current crisis happily.

In France, Boulanger is still the hero of the day and of the street. His first appearance in the Chamber, which was awaited with excitement and apprehension, did not, of course, turn out to be a victory for the plebiscitary general. He was just able to cope when the Floquet ministry received a vote of confidence by 379 votes to ı77, the tip of which was directed against the future dictator. Confidence was expressed in the government that it would be able to firmly uphold the republican institutions and implement the policy of progress, reform and freedom demanded by the country. However, this victory for the ministry is unlikely to last long and will not yet eliminate the danger to the Republic, as the opportunists and the Senate are once again suspicious of Floquet for raising the issue of constitutional revision.

It is now clear to what influence the peasant unrest in Romania, which is already in full decline, is attributable. The official "Telegraphul" publishes a sharp attack against the Russian envoy Hitrovo. Bucharest is expecting Hitrovo's dismissal.

The peasant riots in Bulgaria, which were also staged under the Russian protectorate, were also nipped in the bud by the government's energy. "There is probably no improvement in the political situation," said Stambulov in a political interview, "but it is perhaps better that the crisis lasts longer, as the Prince will in time be able to obtain legal sanction all the more easily."