The Nashville daily union. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1862-1866, 1866-03-14
The Suppression of the Prussian
Parliament.


Parliament.
The long-continued struggle between
the Prussian Parliament and the KinE
has entered upon new phase Count
Bismarck, the Prime Minister, has re
sorted to the extreme measure of clos
ing the Chamber by s royal decree, for
the remainder Of the session. This
act which was entirely unexpected, has
produced the greatest sensation in Ber-
lin and throughout Europe, and will be
regarded by the people of the United
States as marking a new era in the
struggle for constitutional hberty in
Europe, which has been stimulated by
the triumph of freedom during the re-
cent civil war in this country.
A statement of the causes which led
to the arbitrary suppression Of the
Chamber of Deputies, involve q reca-
pitulation of Prussian history and Euro
pean politics for the last ten years. 1t
is sufficient to state that the struggle
originated in the attempt of the King
to carry out a foreign and domestic pol
/ icy, and collect taxes in opposition TO
the will of the representatives of the
people, and in violation of the express
provisions of the Prussian Constiuuon'
The struggle was commenced by the
King, or, more properly, by his Prime
! Minister, Bismarck, who endesyOred 10
substitute a standing army for the pop
ulsr Land-wehr, or militia system. The
attempt was resisted by the Chamber
of Deputies, which steadily persisted
in refusing supplies for the mainten
snce Of the army, although it granted
funds for all other purposes of the
Government The Chamber was dis
solved three or four times in sue.
cession upon this point, but the result
in each case was an increase in the
majority against the monarchical policy
of centralization. 1t is probable that
Count Bismarck would have rescrted
10 smother dissolution in place
of a suppression of the Chamber, |
ifexperience had not warned him that
it would have resulted in placing him
in a still more hopeless minority.
The means by which the Government |
continued to pay the army by diyertiug |
to its use the funds appropriated for !
other purposes, only served TO render |
the Bismarck policy still more odious |
to the people. Another fruitful cause /
of difference was the foreign policy of /
Prussia in respect TO the Danish war.
The Prussian Chamber and people, in
common with the whole German popU-
lation, by no means desired that Den
mark should be despoiled in order to
increase the power of the Ki-g OF |
Prussia, at the expense of the Con
federation. A strong inducement to
discomfort therefore prevailed, which
found vent at the opening Of the Prus-
sian Chamber of Deputies, in January
last The fOrcible annexation of the
Dutchies, and the ignoring OF all the
principles of popular representation
were strongly denounced, and it be-
came apparent that public opinion sus-
tanned the proceedings of the Deputies,
who manifested equal moderation and
irmness.
But Count Bismarck, who never hesi-
tates to adopt extreme measures, was
TO prosecute his schemes of
eleyating the royal authority, and de-
pressing the power OF the Chamber and
the people. NM Twesten and Simson,
the leaders of the Parliamentary oppo-
sition, were summoned to appear be-
fore the Supreme Tribunal 10 answer
for their speeches against the Govern
ment in the Chamber. To make mat
ters worse, two new judges, devoted to
the court, were appointed in order to
insure a judgment against the deputies
measures produced an extraordi-
.~,A 7v.1a,.lTl y,lv,r-1.. ]
ovations were rendered to the perse-
cuted deputies, who were regarded as
the champions Of the great cOnstitu-
tional rights. The Chamber, of course,
strongly sympathized with the depu-
ties, and resented this attempt to de
priye it Of the freedom of debate. Ii
could not recognize the right of any
outside body TO question members for
words spoken in debate without vir-
tual addiction of its functions.
The issue of this struggle between
the King and the Chamber OF Depu
ties remains to be seen. The upper
House of Peers being appointed by the
Court, is, of course, devoted 70 its in
terests, and is ready to carry out its
The principle involved
seems to be fully appreciated by the
Prussian people, who are well versed in
political afairs, and who are becoming
increasing tenacious of their cOnstitu-
.ional rights. At present it looks as if
they would maintain the passive resist
ance against the Court policy, which has
30 far succeeded in placing the King :
md Prime Minister in the wrong, be, :
'ore the bar Of the public opinion OF !
he world A contest of arms would
be eagerly accepted by Count
who must have anticipated
his contingency and provided for il.
when he resolved on the suppression of
he Chamber. The King appears to re-
y upon the effect of popular opinion Of
increasing the national greatness and
.xalting Prussia to the rank of a first
,lass naval and commercial, as well as q
military power. He seems to think
hat the people will pardon the viola ]
ion of their constitutional liberties for
he sake Of national greatness. 1t is
he old game of ambition against free I
lom, but we cannot believe that the
Prussian people will consent to barter
heir own liberty for the privilege Of ,
snslaving others and increasing the
power Of the reigning dynasty.-N ].
g5U. 4 ddy.