European Rulers and the Laboring Classes
THERE seems to be a growing disposition in Europe to better the condition of the laboring classes. The emperor of Germany has made such marked demonstrations in this direction that Prince Bismarck is expected to resign the chancellorship. The emperor of Austria is also strongly leaning toward Wilhelm's plebeian policy, and declares that he himself made the same suggestions to Bismarck when Wilhelm I. was emperor, but the movement was not encouraged. The idea takes so well in Austria that at a recent ball the leading aristocrats attended dressed in rags. It is said the ball netted $9,000, for the benefit of the poor. The German emperor proposes a conference of the powers for the consideration of the condition of the poor. He is now spoken of as the beggars' emperor.