28. Essays from "Deutsche Wochenschrift"
The Week of July 5-11, 1888
Emperor Wilhelm will depart on July 5 and arrive in Peterhof on July 20. Count Herbert Bismarck will accompany the Emperor
On Friday a Crown Council took place under the chairmanship of the Emperor, in which the latter called upon the Councillors of the Crown to be devoted to him in the same way as his father and grandfather, and in which he said that he wished to govern exactly in the spirit of his ancestors, that the Embassy of 1881 should be the basis of social legislation and the treaties with Austria and Italy those of foreign policy.
More and more reports emerged that the Minister of Education, Gautsch, was planning to allow Czech lawyers to take their state examinations in Bohemian if they renounced state appointments. The German National deputies Steinwender (in Villach), Bendel (in Reichenberg) and Richter (in Korneuburg) held voters' meetings to report to their constituents on their activities in the Reichsrat. The latter demanded that they leave the Reichsrat if the interests of the people were harmed in a similar way to the spirits tax law.
On July 5, news arrived that King Milan had intervened at the Serbian Synod to obtain a divorce from Queen Natalie. However, he finally agreed to a mere separation. This is linked to the demand that the crown prince be taken from his mother's side and brought up in the country. The Queen is currently in Wiesbaden, where she is to remain until the trial is concluded. The Bishop Demetrius of Nisch and the Minister of War Protic have gone to the Queen to reclaim the Crown Prince and initiate the divorce. The bishop has already traveled home to report to the synod on his unsuccessful mission, while Protic has remained in Wiesbaden to bring the crown prince to Serbia once the matter has been decided.
In France, the Senate adopted Article 37 of the Recruitment Act in its second reading, which sets the period of active service in the army at three years and the reserve service at six and a half years. The Count of Paris sent a manifesto to the communes in which he presented the monarchy as the stronghold of communal freedom. It was confiscated. On Sunday, General Boulanger gave a speech at a banquet in Rennes, in which he again declared the dissolution of the Chamber and the revision of the Constitution to be a necessity. On ıo. a banquet was held in Saint-Sevant in Boulanger's honor.
In the House of Commons, Fenwick moved a motion to reintroduce parliamentary allowances for deputies, which Gladstone supported. The motion was defeated by 192 votes to 35. Parnell moved a motion to appoint a committee to investigate the charges brought against the Irish leader. The large number of unfinished business will necessitate a fall session of parliament.
In the Netherlands, owing to the advanced age and weakened health of the King, a guardianship must be appointed for the young Princess Wilhelmine, who is to ascend the throne according to the law of succession, to be shared by the Queen and several distinguished Dutchmen. The chamber therefore convenes on the 16th of this month.
In Italy, the Senate approved the government bills concerning the railroads and financial measures. Prime Minister Crispi, then Ministers Magliani and Grimaldi are awarded the Grand Cross of the Austrian Order of Leopold.
It is reported from Sofia that the Minister of Finance has demanded that the government authorize the suspension of payments for the East Rumelian tribute because the Porte refuses to recognize the East Rumelian postal service and the operation of the Bellova-Vakarel line by the Bulgarian company. - Prince Ferdinand travels to Burgas and Varna with Duchess Clementine and Kalofer's suite. The officers arrested for the Popov demonstration were set free.