as a result of the new German tariff, with maximum and minimum duties, which now replaced the Caprivi commercial treaties, was steadily rising.  The Morocco episode had ended without territorial gain, if with no loss of national honour or prestige.  The Poles were antagonized afresh by a stricter application of the Settlement Law for Germanizing Prussian Poland.  Colonial troubles in South-west Africa with Herero and other recalcitrant tribes were making heavy demands on the Treasury.

The parliamentary situation was, as usual, at the mercy of the Centrum party, which, with its hundred or more members, can always make a majority by combining with Liberal parties of the Left (including the Socialists) or Conservative parties of the Right.  In December, 1906, when the Budget was laid before Parliament, it was found to contain a demand for about L1,500,000 for the troops in South-west Africa.  The Centrum refused to grant more than L1,000,000, and required, moreover, an undertaking that the number of troops in the colony should be reduced.  The Social Democrats, with a number of Progressives and other Left parties sufficient to form a majority, joined the Centrum, and the Government demand was rejected by 177 to 168 votes.  On the result of the voting being declared, Chancellor von Buelow solemnly rose and drew a paper from his pocket.  It was an order from the Emperor dissolving Parliament.

The general elections were to be held in January following, and great efforts were made by the Emperor and Chancellor to secure a Government majority against the combined Centrists and Socialists.  The country was appealed to to say whether Germany should lose her African colonies or not; a patriotic response was made, and, though the Centrum, as always, came back to Parliament in undiminished strength, the Socialists lost one-half of their eighty seats.

The Emperor, needless to say, was tremendously gratified.  On the night the final results were announced he gave a large dinner-party at the Palace, and read out to the Royal Family and his guests the bulletins as they came in.  Towards one o’clock in the morning the official totals were known.  The streets were knee-deep in snow, but the people were not deterred from making a demonstration in their thousands before the palace.  By and by lights were seen moving hurriedly to and fro along the first floor containing the Emperor’s apartments.  A general illumination of the suite of rooms followed, a window was thrown up, and the Emperor, bare-headed, was seen in the opening.  Instantly complete stillness fell on the vast square, and the Emperor, leaning far out over the balcony, and evidently much excited, spoke in stentorian tones and with a dramatic waving of his right arm as follows:  “Gentlemen!”—­the “gentlemen” included half the hooligans of Berlin, but such are the accidents of political life—­