February 16.
DisturBances in the streets of Berlin are of such rare occurrence that somewhat more significance may legitimately be read into the recent demonstrations against the Prossian Franchise Reform Bill than usually attaches to conflicts between crowds and the police in a large city. The intention of the Social-Democratic party to hold a mass meeting in what is vaguely termed ina telegram the "centre" of the capital was frustrated by the authorities; but a demonstration was made and called for the active intervention of the police, who fired blank cartridges and in the melee' several people were injured. While it is unnecessary to suppose thet the crowds on this occa: prised more than the tion of conscientious " demonstrators," witha large admixture of the lower elements of the city, it has to be remembered that in this controversy over the franchise the militant party has the support of a considerable section of the people. Although not numerically strong in parliament owing to the inequalities of the electoral system, the Social-Democrats command a large and increasing following throughout the country, while there is a tendency among many voters to give them their adherence, not because they subscribe to all their tenets, bat as the only method of expressing dissatisfaction with the existing condition of things. In this question of the Prussian franchise the party must have considered itself strongly entrenched behind public opinion, for its lin" of action has been decided nyon with wonderful unanimity and carried out with resolute determination. Ata meeting of the " Prussia Congress" of the party in the first week of January a motion wus accepted without debate in favour of the employment of all moosa to break down reactionary opposi tion to Prussian franchise reform. One official speech only was allowed, and the spokesman stated that the party had resolved to employ all measures which were at its command and "to make use of extreme measures, if the situation required it." Bloodshed and window-breaking, he added, were not essential parts of street demon-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.