The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-12-22
THE NEW EMPIRE.

y
Constitution of the new German Empire
The Constitution of the North German Con-
federacy, as well as that of the German Con-
federacy by which it is about to be super
seeded, claims military and naval affairs as we'll
criminal and commercial law, tariff, excise,
and some minor subjects as the domain of
the Central Government and Parliament. To
these the remodelled Constitution adds legis-
lation on the right of forming private socie-
ties and on the liberty of the press
an extension which is sure to be further
increased, as indeed, the limits of this juris-
diction have never been very anxiously OBJ
served by the Federal bodies polite The
Government of the Confederacy is carried on
by Federal Council, formed by the repre-
sentatives of the various sovereigns. In
voting upon the measures proposed by any
of them, each representative is accorded
number of votes, supposed to be proportion
ate to the size and importance of the State
he sits for. While Hamburg, for instance,
has one vote, Brunswick has two, Saxony
four, and Prussia seventeen. In the Federal
Council, as it existed up to the present war,
there were 43 votes altogether, of which
Prussia herself, possessing nearly half, could
always count upon SO many more as made her
practically paramount in the assembly. In the
new Council as it will be after the entryof the
Southern States, though the number of votes
her former number and accordingly has her
influence proportionately weakened. Bavaria
possessing six votes, Wurtemberg four,
Saxony four, and Hesse three, will together
have as many votes as the presiding power of
the Confederacy, and by coalition be always
able to neutralize their principal colleague.
If this arrangement seems to bear an omi-
nous resemblance to the old Bund, in which
the various German States so effectually neu-
tralized each other all that long time from
1915 to 1866, it ought to be remembered that
Prussia at present is the only real power in
the Confederacy, while formerly there were
two - Prussia and Austria - each equally
strong and equally likely to draw a number
of minor States after it. Without an heredi-
tary rival to combat her every action, Prus-
sias ascendancy wi be very great in an as
sembly of minor States, even though the in
fuence constitutionally assigned her may be
comparatively small.
To secure however, the main points of
unity against even the possibility of change
in the wrong direction, Prussia retains the
right she already possesses of vetoing any
modification of the military and naval ar
ran gements, and, which is remarkable pro-
gress, acquires the same right with regard to
the tariff and excise. This renders her mis-
tress of the Federal finances, and, together
with her command over the army, is sure to
weld the various States together into solid
whole. BY way of counter-concession to the
Southern States, she has voluntarily divested
herself of her present privilege of declaring
war in the name of the Confederacy without
the sanction of the Federal Council. Except
in case of attack by foreign foe, when she
may act without consulting her allies, declara-
tions of war in future will proceed not from
Prussia, but from the Council that represents
the Deutscher Bund. Two more important
concessions have to be recorded. Three
fourths of the voters of the Federal Council,
instead of two-thirds, as hitherto, will be re-
quired for any alteration in the Constitution
"a provision which, as every coming change
is sure to strengthen unity at the expense of
the local Governments is clearly in favor of
the minor dynasties. Again, in each of the
special committees of the Federal Council,
which have to prepare the laws and superin-
tend the different branches of the admins
tration, four minor States, instead of two, as
formerly, will be represented in addition to
Prussia. Other points are OF minor impor-
tance. Baden, Bavaria, and most probably,
also, Wurtemberg, as they retain the legsla'
tion on the beer and spirit excise-a matter
of the greatest moment to the Southern
exchequers, which rely princi
pally upon the creature wants
of the subject--will not vote on these
points in the Federal Council A privileged
position has been accorded to Bavaria in mill
tary matters, which leaves her the exclusive
organization and direction of her own arm.
in time of peace; Wertemburg, it seems
secures the less considerable exception mad
in favor of Saxopy some time ago, and con
forming to the Federal laws in all that con
Germs organization, retains the direction o
her troops in time of peace; but the opposit
policy is followed by Baden, who, not salts
lied with the dimInution of her militar
sovereignty decreed by the Federal charter
has concluded special treaty with this Gov
eminent, in which she renounces even tn
financial portion of her military business
as well as the right to appoin
officers, and some other points of sc
condaIy Importance constitutionally LEI
to the local governments. The Bade
army simply becomes embodied with th
Prussiap, as have so many of the other Fede
raj States. BY the way, these different grads
lions in the way in which they give up thei
armies to he commanded and employed b
Prussia curiously reflects the degree of in
portance belonging to each minor sovereign
Proud Bavaria only consents to keep certai
number OF troops and place them at Prussia
disposal in war; Saxony and Wurtemberg &
step further, and, while promising suecO
in war, accept the Prussian organization
Hesse, Brunswick, and a few other State!
adhering to the letter of the Federal law
claim tie privilege of appointing th
greater part of their officers, and of prov
sioniDg, clothing, equippiug, and payin
their forces, who in every other respect al
Prussians, while most minor States have ne
thought it worth their while to preserve thes
scanty rights constitutionally left them, bu
cedipg to Prussia proportionate amount {
their share in the Zollverein revenue, hay
entirely banded over their couple of reg
ments to the Berlin Government. TO col
clude Soufhern Hesse will send & Raden