27. Essays from "Deutsche Wochenschrift"

The Week of June 28-July 4, 1888

Emperor Wilhelm II's two speeches from the throne were received throughout Europe in the most favorable way imaginable, including in Russia and even in France. If one disregards a few Russian newspaper voices, which are disgruntled by the sharp emphasis on the unity of Germany and Austria-Hungary, it is clear that the new ruler is greeted in the most sympathetic manner in the Tsarist Empire. The meeting between Emperor Wilhelm and the Tsar, which will take place in the middle of July, will certainly contribute to strengthening those relations which the Emperor described in his speech from the throne as a special need of the heart.

On July 2, Puttkamer was succeeded by Undersecretary of State von Herrfurth. The new Minister of the Interior is not affiliated with any of the parliamentary parties, but is an experienced civil servant. This appointment shows the amount of political insight the new Emperor has at his disposal. In Germany, the realization of this seems to be gaining ground. The German federal princes are said to have particularly emphasized the extraordinary impressions they received from the manly seriousness and great political tact of William II, and Prince Bismarck, according to the unanimous reports of the German newspapers, could not emphasize enough to some Prussian Pairs the devotion of the ruler, his firmness of will and calmness.

The National Liberals decided not to renew the cartel with the Conservatives.

The Austro-Hungarian delegations closed their meetings on June 28. The delegates, correctly recognizing the dubious European situation, approved all the demands of the army administration, but not without emphasizing that they had now reached a level beyond which they could no longer go; they had made the utmost demands on the taxpayers' ability to pay. A look at the delegation negotiations reveals a pleasing picture as far as Austria's orientation policy is concerned. The agreement of our Foreign Office to the situation in Bulgaria and the emphasis on Greece's claims to its free development are proof that Austria knows what the Balkan peoples want.

On July 1, Count Apponyi gave a speech to his constituents in which he explained the motives that guided the delegations when they gave their consent to the high demands of the joint government: "We want peace and are firmly convinced that determination will secure peace, but wavering will lead to war."

In the German Association in Prague, Prof. Knoll gave a speech on the political situation. He rebuked the behavior of the Germans in the last part of the session in several ways; in particular, he turned against the Viennese pseudo-democrats and the anti-Semites.

The ambassador in London, Count Karolyi, took permanent retirement on June 20.

On 28 June Pope Leo XIII issued an encyclical in which he decisively condemned the idea of freedom advocated by the moderns and constructed a "true concept of freedom" in the spirit of the Church, which does credit to his scholastic sophistry but is decidedly alien to modern consciousness.

Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria confirmed Popov's sentence and subsequently pardoned him. In this way, he satisfied the two opposing parties in the ministry and resolved a difficult issue in a way that was most favorable to the country. Some of Popov's friends were arrested for demonstrating.

The Salisbury ministry has happily withstood the onslaught of opposition. Morley's vote of censure was rejected by the House by 366 votes to 273.

In France, the Floquet ministry is in a bind. It cannot stand up to the opportunists in the Chamber. The Chamber of Deputies accepted the motion against the Ministry that the Budget Commission could only take decisions if 17 members were present. The second defeat was the election of the Budget Commission itself, in which the opportunists were represented by 20 members and the government supporters by 13. In addition, Rouvier, Gambetta's Finance Minister, one of the most outstanding leaders of the opportunists, was appointed President of the Commission. Flourens interpellated on the 3rd because of the affair in Carcassonne, where the Maire defied the orders of the judiciary and is said to have compromised the government; but the cabinet received a vote of confidence.

In the United States, Cleveland of the Democrats and Harrison of the Republicans are now the final candidates for the presidency.