The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1870-09-09

THE GERMAN coNFEDE RATION,

The political changes that have taken
place in Germany during the past few
years have been so many and so great
that it is doubtful if the great mass of our
readers have to-day any very clear idea of
either the political or territorial divisions
as they naturally exist. This being so it
is our duty, perhaps, as journalists, to re-
vive their memories upon two points at
least, compiling from authentic sources.
The old German Empire was dissolved in
1906 in consequence of the victories of Ma
poleon, Francis H., in that year exchang-
ing the title of Emperor of Germany for
the Emperor of Austria. The Coniedera-
ton of the Rhine was then substituted,
under the protection of Napoleon l., who
in 1910, manifested his protecting care by
annexing to the French Empire all the
countries between the the mouths of the
Elbe and the Scheldt. Upon the fall Of
the Napoleonic dynasty in 1915, the Con-
gress of Vienna established the Germanic
Diet, which subsisted until dissolved in
1866 by the Prussian victory at Sadowa.
At the period of its dissolution it embra-
ced one empire (Austria) five Kingdoms
prussia, Bavaria, Saxony, Hanover and
Wurtemburg0 fourteen grant duchies
and duchess, eight principalities and
bee and Brennan.
The death without issue Of the Land
grave ofHesse Homburg, March 25tli, 1866,
had cause this landgraviate to be incorpo-
rated with the Grand Duchy fHesse. Darn
stadt, leaving, in all, thirty-throe States in
the Confederation. The declared objects
of the ConiedeIacy embraced the security
of Germany as whole and the indepen-
dence of each individual State. 1t was
governed by an assembly of deputies or
ambassadors named by each State govern
ment, under a very complex and cumbrous
system. Austria was the permanent presi-
dent of the league.
On the 9th Of April, 1866 while the Ger
manic Diet was yet in force and Austria
was acknowledged to be the principal pow
er connected with it, Prussia, under the
lead of the able and ambitious Bismarck
moved for reform of the Federal Consti-
tuition, and urged that the necessary ar
engagements be forthwith entered into by
negotiation between the several States.
the admission Of popular representatives.,
the regulation of general interests, such as
coming money, tariffs, customs, the APP
pointment of consuls, the organization OF a
navy, the reorganization of an army, and
the regulation of commerce by the Diet.
The majority of the Diet, being influenced
by Austria were averse to these PROPOSE
tions of Prussia, but upon the motion of
the former, June IA, 1866, ordered the mo-
Utilization Of the Federal army. Prussia
now declared the Confederation dissolved,
and invited the States to join her in reor
ganization. The Diet, under the lead OF
Austria, asserted the indissolubility of the
old league, and protested against the with
drawal ofany of its members. But the
protest was not needed. Prussia withdrew
from the confederation and was speedily
followed byMecklenburg- Schwerin, Meek
lenburg- strelitz, Sake Coburg- Gotha, Old
enburg, Anhalt, Schwarzburg, Schaum-
burg-Dippe, Lippe- Detmold, Waldeck
Reuss, Hamburg, Bremen and Lubec.