The New York herald., 1869-06-24
The Situation in Germsny-Adjournment OF
the Reichstas and the ZoIlverein.


the Reichstas and the ZoIIverein.
In yesterdays issue we announced the
adjournment of the Reichstag and the Zollve-
rein, and gave outlines Of the speeches de-
livered by King William on the occasion. In
nothing were the speeches very remarkable.
The King had some regrets and many hopes.
In his address to the members of the Zollve-
rein he regretted that the debates on tariff
reform had failed to produce definite result.
1t was his belief, however, that the session
about to close ''would tend to fortify the bond
of common institutions between the German
States" In his address to the members of the
Reichstag he complimented them for their zeal
and activity, but regretted their failure to
complete the financial arrangements to meet
the deficiencies of the budget" The progress
of the German navy came in for special praise
According to the King, the situation of affairs
generally is such as to ''fortify the confidence
of Germany in the maintenance of internal and
external peace"
The present seems to us fitting opportunity
for glancing at the general situation in Ger
indicating the prospects and chances Of the
future. In such review we must allow our
selves the liberty to look at the condition Of
Austria for, although Austria forms no longer
an integral part Of Germany proper, so large
portion Of her population is German, and so
thoroughly has the whole empire been
brought under German influences, that the
reconstruction experiments now being
made under the direction Of Baron Beust
cannot fail to tell powerfully on the future
of the German races in Europe. Austria
and Prussia are now quite as much rivals in
peace as recently they were rivals in war. In
different spheres the two governments are pur-
suing similar end by totally opposite policy.
During the past year both have made progress,
and the tasks to which Beust and Bismarck
respectively have given themselves must more
and more command the attention of the world.
Since the battle of Sadowa and the treaty of
Prague, which followed, Prussia, under tlfe
direction of Bismarck, has specially given her
self to the work Of unifying and consolidating
Germany. During these three years what
were many who, on the eve of Sadowa, were
not unwilling to believe that before the autumn
of 1869 the complete unification Of Germany,
north and south of the Main, would be an ac-
complished fact. 1t is not so. With slight
exceptions the situation to-day is very much
what it was Immediately after the war. Re-
constructed Germany is now what it was made
by the treaty of Prague. II consists of the
North German Confederation OF the three in
dependent States-Bavaria, Wirtemberg and
Baden-and of the Grand Duchy Of Hesse,
geographically and politically half In and half
out of the North German Union, militarily
wholly in it. The Southern Confederation
provided for by the treaty has never taken
shape. By means of the ''Customs" Parlia-
ment or Zollveren these diyuncta membra
constitute legislative unit for certain specific
purposes connected with the levying and
distribution of customs duties and of certain
excise taxes. For offensive and defensive
purposes all these States constitute military
unit under the supreme command of the Prus-
sion crown The working of the North Ger
the Southern deputies have had in the Gus
toms Parliament have not induced the South
ern States to seek a closer alliance with the
North; nor has Count Bismarck been bold
enough to force such an alliance. In the
Reichstag and in the Zollveren Prussian in
fluence has been, perhaps, too painfully re-
vealed, and Bismarck has been so imperious
that it is doubtful whether, during the last six
months, the cause of union has not been more
hindered than advanced. The party of pro-
gress, as our Berlin correspondent some days
ago very clearly showed, impatient Of the
monopoly of ministerial responsit ility which
Bismarck refuses to share with any other,
have taken their revenge by outvotng their
opponents and thus withholding the supplies
In the Zollverein, in which South as we'll as
nimity has revealed itself, and the government
has found it impossible to carry its tariff re-
forms. 1t is not to be denied, however, that
| in spite of these drawbacks there has been
progress. Germany feels herself more unit
| than she has ever felt before. In times of
peace and in a country where the dividing
| lines were so numerous it is not wonderful
that difference Of opinion should be pro-
nounced with some degree of emphasis. We're
| any pressure to be applied from without the
work of Count Bismarck would be rendered
comparatively easy. A successful campaign
against France would crown the edi6ce OF
which Bismarck, in all future time, must be
regarded as the great master builder.
| 1t is impossible to refuse to admit that If the
full in his work of conciation Bismarck would
have had less reason to pursue cautious policy
towards the Southern States. Austria is now