GEORGIA. 



GERMANY. 



319 



nearly all the large counties. Strenuous efforts 

 were made by the friends of license to recover 

 the ground swept from them by the tide of 

 prohibition sentiment at the previous election, 

 but outside of Atlanta they were attended with 

 only slight success. In that city, after a 

 spirited contest, in which the young men bore 

 a conspicuous part on each side, the Prohibi- 

 tionists were defeated by 1,122 votes out of a 

 total vote of 9,244. The majority against 

 license in 1885 was 225 out of a total of about 

 7,000 votes. Of the enforcement and effect of 

 prohibition in the city during the year a local 

 paper says : 



In consideration of the small majority with which 

 prohibition was carried, and the large number of peo- 



Ele who were opposed to seeing it prohibit, the law 

 as been marveiously well observed. Prohibition has 

 not injured the city financially. According to the 

 assessors' books, property in the city has increased 

 over $2,000 ,000. Taxes have not been increased. Two 

 streets in the citv, Decatur and Peters, were known as 

 liquor streets. Property on them has advanced from 

 10 to 25 per cent. The loss of $40,000 revenue, con- 

 sequent on closing the saloons, has tended in no de- 

 gree to impede the city's progress in any direction. 

 Large appropriations have been made to the water- 

 works, tne public schools, the Piedmont fair, and 

 other improvements. The business men have raised 

 $400,000 to build the Atlanta and Hawkinsville Rail- 

 road. The number of city banks is to be increased to 

 five. The coming of four new railroads has been set- 

 tled during the year. 



Farmers' Convention. There was held at At- 

 lanta in August an important and interesting 

 interstate convention of farmers, at which all 

 the Southern States were represented, and at 

 which the causes and remedies of the existing 

 agricultural depression in that region were dis- 

 cussed at length. Between 200 and 300 dele- 

 gates were in attendance. The following are 

 some of the resolutions adopted : 



Whereas. The cotton States of the South need capi- 

 tal to develop their resources, and the farmers the fa- 

 cilities for borrowing money at a low rate of interest ; 

 therefore, be it 



Resolved. That in the opinion of this convention 

 it is expedient that the National banking act be so 

 amended as, first, to repeal the tax now existing on 

 the issue of State bank circulation ; second, by re- 

 pealing the clause of said act that prohibits national 

 banks from accepting land as security for the loan of 

 money. 



Resolved, That our Senators and Representatives in 

 "Washington be requested to use all efforts in their 

 power to advance the Department of Agriculture to the 

 dignity of a Cabinet position. 



Whereas, It appears, and really is a fact, that great 

 depression exists throughout the whole cotton-growing 

 region ; and, whereas, we believe it to be the duty of 

 this convention to ascertain the cause and to find a 

 remedy ; therefore, be it 



Resolved, \. That we believe the cause to be two- 

 fold, to- wit: first, undue taxation; second, the raising 

 of too much cotton, thereby neglecting to produce home 

 supplies. 



Resolved, 2. That we believe the remedy for the 

 first is the united efforts of our public servants in the 

 Legislatures and in Congress, and this convention 

 earnestly request both these bodies to grant us relief. 



Among the many evils under which the agriculture 

 of the South is laboring, and among the serious obsta- 

 cles to its progress, is the crop-lien and chattel-mort- 

 gage system, now being a part of the business methods 



of large portions of the States here represented ; 

 therefore, be it 



Resolved, That this convention urges upon the 

 farmers throughout the South the pressing importance 

 of bringing to bear upon the Legislature of their re- 

 spective States all legitimate influences which may 

 tend to give speedy relief to our farmers and final 

 abolition to this pernicious and ruinous system. 



We desire that Congress shall pass a law returning 

 through the States, to those entitled to the same, the 

 money unjustly collected on what is known as the cot- 

 ton tax. 



Whereas, Certain corporations and individuals have 

 from time to time combined and conspired to destroy 

 or to depreciate the value of some of the agricultural 

 products of the cotton States by such speculation or 

 gambling as that usually termed " dealing in futures," 

 with the prospective cotton-crop as a basis, and by the 

 operations of the American Oil Trust Company in their 

 well-nigh successful effort to crush out all competition 

 either in the purchase of seed, or the sale of the prod- 

 ucts thereof ^therefore 



Resolved, That the influence of the entire agricult- 

 ural population of all the States here convened be 

 brougnt to bear upon the legislative powers of our 

 respective States to secure the enactment of such laws 

 as will properly define these crimes and furnish com- 

 mensurate penalties therefor. 



The cotton-crop of Georgia for 1887 was esti- 

 mated at 890,900 bales, raised upon 2,950,000 

 acres. A severe cold and frost, which visited 

 the State early in March, did great injury to 

 growing fruits, wholly destroying the crop in 

 some sections. 



GERMANY, an empire in central Europe, 

 founded on treaties concluded between the 

 North German Confederation and the Grand 

 Duchies of Baden and Hesse on Nov. 15, 1870, 

 the kingdom of Bavaria on Nov. 23, 1870, and 

 the kingdom of Wurtemberg on Nov. 25, 1870. 

 The ratifications of the treaties were exchanged 

 on Jan. 29, 1871, at Berlin. For these treaties 

 was substituted, by the decree of April 16, 

 1871, the Constitution of the German Empire, 

 which went into force on May 4, 1871. The 

 headship of the empire belongs to the Prussian 

 crown. The hereditary dignity of German 

 Emperor was accepted by King William I of 

 Prussia at Versailles on Jan. 18, 1871, in a 

 proclamation addressed to the German people. 

 The confederation of states forming the empire 

 is invested with sovereign imperial power, ex- 

 ercised by the crown of Prussia and by the Fed- 

 eral Council, composed of representatives of 

 the confederated states. The imperial power, 

 in the exercise of certain functions, requires 

 the consent of the Reichstag or parliament, 

 composed of representatives freely elected by 

 the German people. This assembly exercises 

 also in certain regards a right of control. 



The Emperor William was born March 22, 

 1797. The heir- apparent is Prince Frederick 

 William, born Oct. 18, 1831. The next in suc- 

 cession is his son, Frederick William (called 

 Prince William), born Jan. 27, 1859, whose 

 eldest son, named also Frederick William, was 

 born May 6, 1882. (See illustration, page 321.) 



The Chancellor of the Empire is Prince Otto 

 von Bismarck, who is also President of the 

 Council of Ministers of State, Minister of For- 

 eign Affairs, and Minister of Commerce in the 



