The Portland daily press., 1866-10-13
The North German Parliament.


The treaty of alliance, offensive and defen-
give, between the German States OF Prussia
Oldenburg, Saxe-C Coburg- -Gotha, Schaumburg-
Lippe, Saxe-Weimar, Saxe-Altenburg' Anhai'.
Schwartsburg- -Rudelstadt, Schwartzpurg-ooh-
dershausen, Reuss, younger branch Bruins
wick. Waldeck, Pyrmont, Lippe, Lubbock, Bre-
men and Hamburg, was ratified on the 10th
September. This treaty, which places the ar
mics of the allies under the supreme COM
mand of the King Of Prussia, is to remain in
force forsne year, unless the new act of con-
federation should be previously settled. 1t
provides for the election of National Parlia-
ment, to take into consideration federal con-
stitu.ion to be drafted by commissioners ap-
pointed by the several governments. The
electoral law which has just been passed by
the Prussian Deputies provides for the cleo
tion OF members of the National Parliament
II is measure which marks wonderful ad-
vance in European thought.
While in America the leaders OF the LiDer-
al party are hesitating and. higgling about
the avowal of the popular aspiration for I'M
partial suffrage, while in England popular as
semblies are talking about manhood suffrage
and no ministry dares to propose reform so
radical, these Prussians, with King who be-
lieves in his Divine Right, and a Prime Min
lister who at least fatters that foible, have en-
acted first Of all, that "Every man blameless
in the eyes of the law, who is citizen of one
of the German States united in the Conleder-
alton, Is to be voter as soon as he attains the
age of twenty-five years." Persons under
guardianship, bankrupts and paupers are
alone excepted. The voting is to be public by
ballot, and officers of the government are to
take no part in the management of it. One
deputy is to be elected for every 100000 souls
of the population, and every qualified voter
who has belonged for at least three years to
one of the States of the Confederation, ay
become its representative. An absolute ma
jority is required for an election, and if none
of the candidates has majority, the polls are
to be reopened for choice between the two
who haze most votes. Finally, the Parlia-
ment is to be the sole judge OF the qualifca-
tions of its members.
These provisions recognize the principle of
manhood suffrage in its fullest extent, with
out regard to property qualification !; offer to
every citizen an equal chance among his fe-
lows; accept population as the basis of rep
resentation; and assure to the Parliament
perfect freedom in its deliberations No mem
Der is to be held responsible elsewhere for his
vote, or for words uttered in debate The law
is the grandest recognition Of the rights of the
people which the world has yet seen. It mat
ters not, with what intention it was proposed
by the Prussian government. If it was in
tended simply to amuse the commonalty with
the forms of power without the substance, as
is very likely the case, it shows nevertheless
what the German people are thinking of, and
that their claims can no longer be wholly ig-
norei. The bill met with considerable oppo-
sltlon in the Upper House, a part of the lords
op)ecting to the paragraph granting unques--
toned liberty of speech. and Others thinking
1t best for Prussia to undertake the Develop
ment Of German unity without troubling her
sslt about popular majorihes. Count Bis
mark himself spoke in favor of the bill, and
it was probably through bis influence that it
passed without alteration, as it came from
the Lower House. i3saI lrH ylssi ,,-nsGfd
or course the arliainent will be merely
deliberative assembly. The constitution
which 1t tenders at last"to the States of the.
Confederation, will be accepted or rejected
as they see fit But it is a great thing lor the:
German people to be consulted at all. 1t is a.
great thing for them to have the privilege OF
advising in matters of government. The popr
uiar canvass before the elections, and the dis
cussions ip the Parliament itself, will rapidly
educate them. Assured freedom oil discus
sion viii assuredly lead to more liberal forms
OF government. We shall see, in time, Ger
man nation, firmly united by free institu-
tions. '-''' '.i
1t is rather humiliating to see, while we re-
joice over this great advance of the popular
cause in Europe, that we are still so far from
the realization of our theories on this CONT
nent. We have not arrived at impartial suf.-
ffage yet. The Toronto Globe reminds us.
that although .the United States has its Con-
gress, popularity elected, the President and his
Cabinet, during their term of office, distribute
the patronage, make and unmake officials, and
exercise the prerogative of pardon for all Of
Tenders Of every grade. Parliaments and
Congresses do not alone insure freedom. While.
Mr.. johnson pardons Boston mail robbers,
and exercises unchecked the vast and danger
GUS power of arbitrary removal from office,
there is still something to do in behalf of lib
erty here That power would never have been
granted by the First Congress, had such an
abuse of it been foreseen. 1t is time it were
restrained within safer limits. t" 1E