The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1867-01-11
The Course of the Opposition in the Prus-
sian Chambers,

siAn Sn1mnef6.
1t is interesting for every intelligent STU
dent of history in this country to follow at
tentively the contest in the Prussian Cham
btrs.
1t is not amere strife of factions or Of parti-
sans; there are great principles OF government
at the bottom OF it, which are the propelllnc
force of the two combatants; and it is a pily
that some of the minor factions do not seem
to comprehend this, and, if they do, that they
disregard 1t from motives of selfish and mar
row policy. 8ts
The two principles to which we refer are the
paramount royal authority, or monarchism,
on the one side, and parliamentary govern
ment, or constitutionalism, on the other
modern progress and political advancement at
war with the traditions OF the past.
The representatives of the conservative par
ty in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies fully
understand this and act accordingly; but, un-
fortunately, number of the liberal represen-
tatives do not. Hence their many defeats up
Oh important questions affecting the future in
ternal polity OF the Kingdom. There is moth
ing which the devotees OF the Kings preroga-
tive dread more than the DEVELOPMENT of
democratic ideas. The Emperor Francis OF
Austria was wont to say that he wanted not
wise men to rule over, but good and obecient
subjects. The present King OF Prussia and
his adherents have not as yet so far tamil
iarized themselves with the march of events
anu the political developments OF the century
as to have this binding vol s..a.y rcmovru
nom their eyes, True, they have made some
concessions to the demands OF the people but
with these they are determined to stand and
20 no further. The same spirit which, In
1S47, induced King Frederick William Of
Prussia to say that he could not permit a
written sheet of paper (meaning a Constitu-
tion) to intrude itself between him and Provi-
dence, is still the ruling spirit at Court, though
it mauifests itself now in less absoutist forms,
and is more careful and clrcumspect in its ut
terance.
Upon the triumph and defeat Of either the
one or the otherse Of principles will in a great
measure depend the whole complexion oil the
political future of Germany. In the Southern
States, not yet included in tie borTussifed
this term has but lately been coined in Eu-
rope) German Confederacy, particul arly in Ba-
den, Wurtemberg and Bavaria, constitutional
or rather parliamentary government has been
in full, and we might almost say untrammeled
and unhindered, operation ior upwards o
thirty years, with occasional Slight fluctuations
toward nonarchism. In these States freedom
OF the Press and OF political debate has been
fully established, and their regulation by Law
is characterized by very liberal spirit-quitt
u
sia and in her annexed new provinces. The
people in those States Lave accustomed them
selves to comparative freedom of politica
movement, and hence arises, in some degree
their aversion to the Prussian system of mill
tary and bureaucratic Capitalization Very
/ likely II was this tact--the impossibility o
subjecting the people OF those States to the
stiff rule OF the Berlin systems--as much a;
the advice OF, perhaps, even threat of Napole
on, which induced King William and Coun
Bismarck to stop half way il their conquests
and limit the extension of their power to til,
regions north of the river Main. Jra
But this cannot remain. The longings o
the people OF the whole country are for th,
political unity OF the entire nation. Thei
| songs, their prayers, their speeches, all Civ,
utterance to this sentiment. But it will de
pend upon the course OF The opposition in the
Prussian Chambers whether this tervent wisl
OF the German people shall be soon realized Oh
not at all. Perhaps Mr.. Leo, a member of the
revolutionary Frankfort Parliament OF 1913
hit the nail on the head when he exclaimed
that the unity OF Germany will not be achiev
ed by the resolves OF the Parliament, but OIL
the battlefield. The battle-feds of last sum
mer have done something toward this end, BY
breaking up the old inert Band and consolidate
ing tn Northern States into new confedera
cy under the lead OF Prussia. But the militia
ry successes, to be permanent aud to becom,
an actual and lasting benefit to the people o
all Germany, must be followed by course O
policy more liberal in its guiding spirit ant
more tending to the political elevation OF til,
people than the one now pursued and insisted
upon by the King, his ADVISERS and the con
servative party in Prussia.
II is for this reason that the debates anC
resolutions of the Prussian Chambers ane
the general course OF the opposition member:
are not only interestlng,but Oh exceeding impor
tance for the future reconstruction of unhap.
py and distracted Germany. Should thu
principle OF truly representative Government
succeed, where the peoples freely elected Dep
uties control the administration OF the Gov
ernment, al public opinion controls them, IL
such event the opportunity will have arrived
for Germany TO remain distracted no longer
Were the conservative party to be triumphant
were the principle OF the Kings supreme au
thority--the principle of monarchism---to b
firmly aid enduringly engrafted upon the DO
htical constitution OF that leading State were
in fact, the liberal opposition to succumD, thel
the reunion OF all German Stat IS into on
nationality would be Tar removed into uturi
ty, and more numerous and more bloody bat
tie-fields it would take to overcome the dep.o
rable results OF such success of the conserva
tiveS.---N Y Times