The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1880-05-15 00:00:00

PRINCE BISMARCK AND THE GERMAN

PARLIAMENT. -
Prince Bismarck greatly surprised the German
Parliament on Saturday ley appearing at its meet-
ing, and making a speeeh. It had been re-
peatedly announced that he would do so, but it was
put off from day to day, until apparently the
opposition to his propositions in reference to Ham-
burg had reused the Imperial Chancellor to such a
pitch that he must speak out. This he did on Saturday.

The unity of the Empire, the Prince declared, was
still far from being secure; and those who opposed
the measures contemplated in relation to Hamburg,
he seemed to say, were really opposing that unity.
The right of the Federal Council to act ail it
pleased in reference to the Customs boundary
had been disputed; but the Imperial Chancellor
believed in it, and must insist upon it. He also com-
plained of the position taken up by the Clericals and
declared that if the Prog,ressists and the Poles followed
their example, as they had up to the present, then
all Bills which the Government proposed would fall
through, to the detriment of the nation. He further
remarked that the opposition of the Clericals had
simply shattered all hopes of peace with the Vatican.
He concluded by stating that he was tired to death
with the opposition he had to encounter at every
point. He only wished to benefit the Empire, and to
remain firm to the Empire in his old age; but, if
obstacles proved too great for him, he must beg,
to be relieved of his post. The speech caused
some excitement in the House, but not quite the im-
pression that was expected; and the debate was con-
tinued after the Prince left, which he did immediately
on the conclusion of his speech, without waiting for
comment or reply.

The Times, in a leader, noticing the threats of
resignation repeated by Prince Bismarck in his speech
on Saturday, remarks that such menaces can scarcely
maintain their efficacy for ever, and the best way to
cure the Chantellor of the trick.of too easily resorting
to them is to take him at his word. Unless the
troublous anxieties of the Chancellor are entirely
unreal, United Germany has no organic life in itself.
It is a fortuitous concourse of separate provinces,
held together by the untiring energy and unwavering
will of one man. The Times does not hold so low an
opinion of thb vitality of the German Empire. Prince
Bismarck materially assisted in bringing it about.
But the maintenance of ifs unity is not now depen-
dent upon him, and it may even be doubted whether
the effect of his domestic policy is not to thwart the
full and free development of those national senti-
ments which constitutes the real guarantees of the con-
tinued existence of national life. No nation can be.in a
wholesome condition if its fortunes are inextricably
bound up with the life of one man, and a superstitious
belief in the necessity of a connection that can be dis-
solved without mortal danger is injurious to the growth of
a proper spirit of self-reliance among its citizens. Even
the Man himself ,who believes himself to oe indis-
pensable is not improved in temper and tact by
nursing such a belief. Prince Bismarck would soon
find himself much better in physical health and mental
serenity if it was clearly intimated, to him that the
German Parliament were prepared not to be alarmed
even if he chose to carry into' effect for a season his
oft-repeated threat of retirement.

I pensp,b'