GEitmAcv. The national parties in the German Empire have their source and their local counter parts in the separate German States. Bismarck carried his earlier measures by means of the support of a patriotic nationalist party, the National Liberals, whose chief idea was the creation of German unity, and who were willing to support the Chancellor, although they did nut wholly approve of him. He was also supported, with more enthusiasm, by the Free Conservatives (Reichspartei). Ile was opposed by the Old Con servatives, who clung to the old particularistic regime, and by the Progressists (Fortschritts partei), who rejected all compromises and were. the radical wing of the Nationalist Party that preceded the formation of the Empire. The Ealturkantpf (q.v.) encouraged the growth of another strong opposition party, Ultramontane Catholic, known as the Centre. This had its strength in the Catholic States of South Ger many and in the western part of Prussia. This party since 1893 has been the strongest single group in the Empire. It elected 100 members of the Reichstag in 1903. Bismarck, before his re tirement, in view of the falling away of his old National Liberal support, had turned to the plan of a coalition between the Conservatives and his old enemies of the Centre to obtain support for the Government. The Social Democrats follow
the Centre in point of numbers (82), then come the Conservatives (53), National Liberals, Radicals (Preisinnigc), the Free Conservatives, the Anti-Semites, and a few lesser factions. The Polish elements form a strongly hostile Na tionalist group. The predominance of Prussia in the Empire gives Prussian politics an oyershad owing influence, and the Agrarians, who are pri marily a Prussian landholders' party, opposed to the present commercial policy of the Government, and desirous of extreme protection against the importation of foodstuffs, control the Conserva five members entirely, the Centrists to a great extent, and have a strong hold among the Poles and Anti-Semites. The Government is thus forced, on some of its favorite projects, to look to the Liberal groups for its support. The Agra rians were strong enough to defeat the Emperor's Rhine-Elbe canal project in the Prussian Landtag in 1899, arousing thereby very bitter feeling. This strong Agrarian agitation is a most im portant complication in the already complex party situation in Germany. In the Parliamentary elections of June, 1903. the Socialists polled a vote hitherto unequaled in strength.