Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 9.djvu/269

 23-1 LIEBSS

for the protection of the labouring classes, a policy that hiin, especially the southern members, thereby con- was gradually adopted by all other groups. stitutiug him unquestionable leader of the party and

The Centre did not, however, become identified with Windthorst's successor. The Reichstag was dissolved the Government as a result of its temporary alliance, by the emperor and a new election took place amid Though the KuUurkampf was gradually discontinued, great popular interest and enthusiasm. The Ccnti« other difficulties with Bismarck succeeded, especially Farty returned to the Reichstag as the most numerous in regard to the socio-political agitation. The ^reat and unportant political factor m Germany, chancellor imderstood its importance, but lx?lieved Liebcr's great qualities as a leader were demon- that the duty of the State in respect of social reform strated from 1893 to 1898, during which period his was hmited to the insurance of labourers against sick- prominence became more and more manifest; at the ness, accidents, and disability. The Centre, on the same time took place the greatest domestic develop- other hand, paid more att(^nt ion to the legal protection ment of the Empire since 1870. In those years Ger- of lalx)urers against extortion and overtaxation. In many so developed its political organization and be^ the meantime the chancellor's demands in the matter came so self-reliant that the imperial idea has ever of the army led to a rupture between himself and the since dominated the popular mind, completelv over- Centre. In the delates on the Army Bill (1887), the shadowing the local patriotism of the individual states, so-called Septennate, Bismarck strenuously resisted This is primarily due to three main factors: the the influence of the hated party. He even tried to Russo-German commercial treaty of 1894; the civil diminish the power of the Reichstag, and to increase code of 1896 with its resultant commercial law; as that of the Prussian Landtag, in order to cfTcct his well as the reform of the procedure in army cases and object. During the heated debates which followed the law of 1898 concerning the navy, the foundation it was Lieber who attacked Bismarck and his asso- of the actual German navy. These measures were so ciates in the Landtag with the greatest vehemence, thoroughly discussed in Parliament as to bring home In 1890 Emperor William II relieved Bismarck of the to the uerman people the full si^ificance of an united chancellorship, and declared himself in favour of state Empire. It is to Liebcr's credit that he grasped this protection for the lal)ouring classes. In succeeding idea fully and that he induced his party, and others in years, almost ever>' bill for this purpose advocated by the Reiclistag, to forget their differences and finish the Centre since 1877 has received imperial sanction, this great work in umon with the Government. At The Prussian ministry and Landtag, however, re- the same time he re-organizcd his party. Its former tained their power in local politics, notwithstand- organization, dating from the time of the Xw/ftiritawijoA ing Bismarck s retirement. On 14 March, 1891, the owed its origin to a politico-religious condition oi Centre lost its leader by the death of Windthorst. affairs, and it aimed at special legislation. Beginning Several prominent memlxjrs of the party were of with 1890, a new organization had come into existence opinion that they ijhould come to an understanding with social reform as its principal object, the Volksver- with the Prussian Government and with the Conserva- einfiir das Koiholische Dcvischland (People's Union for tive Party, in order to obtain more influence in Prus- Catholic Germany). Liel^er made numerous speeches sian affairs. This policy met with Liebcr's approval, in many cities on Wialf of this association. He re- but fell through temporarily, when, in the spring of garded it as the most important means of ensuring the 1892, the Government withdrew a bill in the interest continuance of the Centre bv giving it a wider sphere ofChristian public schools. This bill endorsed the prin- of activity in the domain of politics than was attain- ciples of Christian education, but failed owing to the able by a merely ecclesiastical party, also by reshaping violent opposition of the Liberals. A few weeks later, it along such lines as would make it permanently in- thc Prussian Liberals and Conservatives formed a coali- fluential as an imperial party, ejctending to all the tion in order to cripple the Centre policy of extendhig states of the Empire, witn social reform for its chief to the miners the advantages already granted to the object (eine sociaie mid foderaiive Reichspartei). labourers. The Catholic party was hopelessly outvoted. Lieber was very active during these years; his great

The situation now l)ecame very critical for the speeches are full of vivid German patriotic sentiment,

Centre. Their failure to pass their bills was aggrav- and recall at once the pofitical romanticists of 1813-

ated by discord within the party itself, so serious as to 60 and the heroes of 1848. His idea was the political

jeopardize its existence. Its unity had suffered by unity of Germany, so established, however, as to pre-

the loss of Windthorst. The defence of the rights of serve the historical peculiarities of the different na-

the Church, on which his followers had hitherto been tionaUties, with German science and educational

as one man, no longer held the first place in the po- methods, German industrial life, and the .unifying

litical field, being overshadowed by the differences, power of a universal system of commerce. He was

mostly economical, which had arisen between North ever mindful of the prestige of the fatherland abroad,

and South Germany. To protect their diverging in- and was ever a sincere friend of universal peace and of

terests it appeared best to dissolve the partv. The an amicable rivalry in the pursuit and furtherance of

possibility of a split between the northern and south- civilization. He crossed the ocean three times to

em members of the Centre grew more threatening visit the United States. In his speeches he urged the

when, in 1893, a great agrarian agitation arose in Ger- preservation of the German racial characteristics,

many. This led the Catholic voters of Bavaria, He was anxious for this in proportion as he studied

nearly all farmers, to desert the Prussian followers of American institutions, and realized their value, espe-

the Centre, whose interests in this matter diverged from cially in their possible application to Germany, theirs. The crisis was approaching its culmination, When the election for the Reichstag took place in

but was obviated when in December, 1893, the govern- 1898, Lieber's party returned to Berlin with its former

ment introduced a bill in the Reichstag to increase strength. New, and perhaps more difficult, problems

the army. This caused great excitement throughout awaited solution: the completion of the navy, the re-

the Empire. All the members of the Centre were newal of the commercial treaties), and the reform of the

united in their determination to grant only a part of financial affairs of the Empire. Prussia wa« also

the Kaiser's demands. The two most prominent, endeavouring to secure greater infiuenoe in German

ably led by

tees of the several state-governments. Lieljer learned Miquel, Minister of Finance, formerly Lieber'a friend, that the governments would not give the required but now his intriguing opponent, guarantees, and moved for the consideration of the Lieber now fell fatally ill. He continued his woA estimates only. The majority of the Centre seconded without flinching, however, until January, 190Q,