The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1867-04-01


BILE for each one of them would naturally
seek to outgrow and overreach the others.
For nations torn asunder and oppressed as
Italy has been for so many years, Thiers does
not feel the least sympathy. He would have
been willing to give the Italians liberal insti-
tutions, but unity-never. The same feeling
is shown towards the Cretans and the Chris
tian tribes of Turkey. He does not like, he
says, the Turk, but he thinks his rule prefer
able to that by which the Christians now try
to replace it. These revolving sentiments
were promptly disowned by GARNER Pages,
one OF the Provisional Government of lS49,
but they were, nevertheless very detrimental
to the position of the Liberal opponent of the
Government. The French policy of Louis
Napoleon had never before been more liable to
attack, and it was therefore unfortunate that
the first great speech against it was, on the
whole, failure.
The New Kingdom of North Germany.
From the World.
The adoption, some days since, by the North
German Parliament, of the new Constitution
proposed by Won Bismark for North Germany,
must be reckoned as one of the great events
of the nineteenth century. 1t ranks with the
establishment of the French Empire by Louis
Napoleon, the emancipation of the serfs in
Russia, and the unifcation of Italy. A year
has not elapsed since the world was startled
by the advance of the Prussian troops into
Holstein, which was the signal of the subse-
quent trial of strength between Prussia and
Austria. Seven short weeks of war suffced
to decide the question at issue, leaving the
former power mistress of Northern Germany.
Eight months have scarcely passed since peace
was declared, and but one since the North
German Parliament was convened by the King
of Prussia yet within this time a new Confede-
ration has been formed, new constitution sub
mitted, discussed, and adopted, thus completing
the triumph of Prussia, and raising her to the
front rank of the great powers of the world. By
the provisions of the new constitution, Prussia
is the head of the Confederation, and is its sole
representative among other nations. She has
the power to declare war or peace to make
treaties with other powers, and receive or
accredit ambassadors. She convenes and ad-
jOurns the Parliament, and the control of all
the land and naval forces of the COnfederacy
is vested in the King of Prussia, under the
title of the Federal Commander-in-Ch Chief and
Lord High Admiral, who also has sole control
of the expenses for the army and navy. Next
to the chief OF the Confederacy is the Federal
Council, composed of forty-three members,
apportioned among and nominated by the
several States in the Confederacy. Mem
bers OF this body will share with the Paria-
ment the control of legislation, and can ap-
pear in the latter body and express the views
of the States which they represent. The Par
lament is to be composed of representatives
chosen by the people, every man over twenty
five years of age being entitled to vote. This
body, in conjunction with the Federal Coun-
ell, will enact the laws, which, it should be
added, are to have effect throughout the entire
Confederacy, and are to supersede the laws of
the several States. Questions of trade and
commerce, of indirect taxation and customs
duties, of weights, measures, and coinage, and
of the system of internal communication, are
to be referred to these legislative bodies. The
proceedings of the Parliament are to be public,
and the votes to be decided by majority,
quorum to consist of more than half of the
members. The same rule is to bind the Fede-
raj Council except that q majority of two
thirds will be required to effect any change
in the Constitution. Every man, except such
as serve in the navy is required to serve seven
years in the regular army and five in the mill
tia, and al in the national service, military or
civil, are to take the oath of fealty to the King
/ of Prussia.
Such, in brief, are the prominent features
of the new Constitution of North Germany.
! 1t will be observed that nearly all the power
| is centred in Prussia, or rather, i'll the King
! of Prussia as chief of the ConfedeTacy. The
main objection urged against the document
was that by it Parliament would have no
control over the expenditures; Dut IL Is not
necessary to explain why Won Bismark was
unwilling to intrust the public purse to the
representatives of the people. The centralza
ton of such enormous power in the chief OF
/ the Confederacy is plainly compensation for
universal suffrage; and unless the signs Of
the times be false, King William will be elected
Emperor, which will be a fit finale of the grand
drama that within the past year has been
enacted in Germany.
1t will be strange if Americans neglect to
draw a parallel between the history of the
United States for the past six years and that
of Prussia for the past twelve months. Each
was rent by internal dissension, and each sub
dued all armed opposition to its authority
the one in seven weeks, the other in four years.
Prussia has solved in eight months all the
! great problems which the issues of the war
! presented and justly anticipates most bril-
liant future; but the United States finds itself
at the close of the second year after the cessa-
tion of hOstilities no nearer a settlement of the
! questions which melted the war, as we'll as of
! those which were evolved by the war, but
rather farther from it, in that it has just re-
duced to military provinces the very States
against which it fought to prevent them from
severing their relations as States in the Union.
Congress S and the Constitution.
| From the Nation.
None of our readers will ever suspect us OF
too great a reverence for Congressman; and
we think that we cannot justly be charged
with want of respect for the Constitution Of
| the United States. We have all along urged