The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-02-26
THE GERMAN PARLIAMENT.

The Parliament of the North German States, the
Telegraph informed our readers yesterday, was
formally opened on Saturday by His Prussian
Majesty, King WILLIAM l., who told the represen-
tatives present that he was ssencircled as Ger
man Prince had been for ages, that all hopes for
the future welfare of the nation rested on The
accomplished fact of a united Germany. He
recommended Parliament to form o new Constitu-
tional Union, which would be defensive in charac-
ter, and give unity, liberty and power TO the Faith
erland." This is the meagre abstract, brought
us by the Telegraphic Cable, and conveys net a
single idea beyond what we have already had, and
we shall look forward with interest to the receipt OF
the full text by mail some two weeks hence.
The opening Of the Prussian Chambers, in form
or years, was event scarcely chronicled outside
Of Germany it is otherwise now, however, espe-
cially when we have not the old Prussia only sit
ting in council, but Parliament elected by uni
versal surage,) of all the States Of North Germa-
ny, comprising q population of thirty millions
Nor is this all. The Southwestern German States
also are applying for admission into this confed-
Grafton, which will add nearly nine millions more
The temper Of these last named States, Bavaria,
Wurtemberg, Baden and Hesse Darmstadt, may
be ineforred somewhat from the recent speech Of
lister, which foreshadows policy entirely Prussan.
The French papers are very bitter in their denun-
Citations Of his programme, and charge him with
trying to sell his country, etc. In Austria his
views have excited great sensation, and have in
duced the most conciliatory policy on the part Of
the government toward Hungary. The Cabinet at
Vienna, in Prince HoHENLoHEs address to the Ba-
varian Chambers, scents ambitious. designs; no
less than an attempt to incorporate the German
Provinces Of Austria with the Kingdom of Bava-
ria, in case the present Empire Of Austria should
be dissolved into it's constituent parts.
And, in fact, this is an old and cherished idea in
the royal House Of Bavaria. It is maintained BY
that crown that the German Provinces Of Austria
belong to Bavaria by virtue Of testament to that
effect, made by FERDINAND L, and that even MARIA
THERESA would have been compelled to yield her
title, had not Hungary come to her support.
The Emperor NAPOLEON, it will be remembered,
in his recent address on the opening Of the French
Chambers, says that the preservation Of Austria is
necessary to the balance of power in Europe His
programme, it is thought, is to form an alliance
with Austria and Italy against Prussia, or any
other power it may be French policy t. assal Ihls
alliance, we believe, is even now in cou se OF nego
tiation; and it's very formation must needs threat
en- the peace of Europe; for both Austria and
France feel aggrieved with Prussia ano have
wrongs, real or imagined, to avenge; and wal oe-
tween these countries, which viii soon assume the
character and proportions Of a general European
1o11- 4or, NJ ont1 naThaDS
before the year 1867 shall have run its course.
The elections for the North German Parliament,
our European exchanges advise us, have eventu-
ated in decided victory for the Liberal party
and there is every prospect that this Parliament
will not give its consent to any Constitution that
does not guarantee civil Liberty and German na-
tionRl unity.
The policy of Prussia Of late it If reported, has
been Of more liberal tendency inspired, it may
be, by the immense armed preparation of her
Western neighbor. Thus MANTEUFFE1 has been
relieved from the military government OF schles-
wig Holstein, because he was disposed to be too
much Of tyrant, and himself constituted source
Of perpetual irritation to, the 'apnexed" people.
Ills conduct at Frankfort last summer will not
soon be forgotten. q - =. ~ IS, :: q y.
The recusants in Hanover also are now~being
more mildly dealth with all Of which are cheering
signs and ne hope they may not prove fallacious
but that the Prussian Government will work,
hand in hand, with the chief men from the other
States, for the accomplishment Of the great work,
fa.i for which the people Of Germany have SO long
sighed in vain the formation Of strong, con-
stitutional government, embracing the entire Of
German territory and people; nation that shall
be free within, and strong without; continue the
high individual, development that has so long
characterized it, and, at the same time, have
name among the nations, that shall be honored
aud respected.