The New York herald., 1871-03-26
THE NEW EMPIRE.
The Liberal Party in Germany and
Questions CT Reform.
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BR EA kEI2S AHEAD.
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Ugly DefOrmittes of Absolute
Monarchy.
THE PRESS MUST BE SILENT.
THE PRESS MUST BE SILENT.
Severe Restrictions Against the
Marriages of Army Officers.
CHURCH, SCHOOL AND STATE.
Existing Relations Between Germany and
Russia. Austria and England.

4
from manyheaded Germany to united empire IN.
snuated itself very quietly and suap,te IL, aoao 1t
Is now beginning TO thrust itself forward In more
tangible shape, that she that runneth may read"
IN long-wlnded official proclamations the subjects
told that-'1, William, having notified the Ger
man people by my proclamation OF January is OF
the acceptance Of the imperial dignity for myself
and my descendants on the throne OF Prussia, am
pleased to confer the title of imperial High
ness upon my son, the Crown Prince of
Prussia and the future heirs Of the Prus-
sian thronen Documents OF similar tenor
treat OF the titles OF Emperor. Empress. imperial
Crown Princess Victoria OF Eng!andl &C.; and wha,
with the new colors TO be adopted-bIack, silver
red, god-the new coats OF arms Of the courtiers
and court purveyors. the new etiquette and the
thousandand-one inevitable paraphernalia, there
WIN be enough satisfy the cravings of those most
thirsty for outward show and material manifestations
OF the new empire. The regular old fogies are per-
fecty enchanted at the vision OF what they conceive
20 be the spendors OF a new Roman empire, and are
eager 10 hail It, and accepits traditional hierarcho
theo cratcal tendencies as a matter OF course. To
them national and cosmopolitan tendencies are
horror; they only think OF the continuation of the
Roman empire, The existence Of which ceased Au.
gust 8, 1so6. II told tnat the present empire can
only be a secular and federal institution they shake
their heads In Catholic circles 1t Is dreamed that
the new realm Will be found the champion of the
Papal chair which, according to the most sanguine
will be securely established Tor the future at Fulda
IT is only the progressive and liberal party which
contempates the new dignity of Kaiser as symbol
OF German unity and strength. and gives forth the
motto, I" Italy to the Italians and Germany to the
Germans" 1t is the same
LIBERAL PARTY
which has just published its platform for the coming
German Relchstag, wherein it is plainly said that
as recompense for the vast sacrifices OF life and
property IN this glorious war; the people entitled
TO constitutional development, TO liberty and pros
perity, and that never must be allowed a repetition
of the experiences OF that woeful time which the
German people submitted to after the wars against
Napoleon ]. In the same platform the hand Is
stretched to the South German States and all the
liberal elements there are invited 10 join IN one grand
league This timely action BODIES q lively and inter-
estng STRIFE in tue coming Parliament and there
may be expected q Stout opposition TO the narrow
minded poIcy SO long maintained By The Prussian
Ministry. The great
QUESTIONS OF REFORM
will not be drowned, 1t is noped, in the triumph OF
military glory; but he opposition Will boldly stand
by its banner. on which are inscrbed:-i
responsibility in public ollce, comDlete budget
right, eedom OF the press, the right of assembly,
trial by jury IN all political cases, free schools re-
ducflon OF the time OF military service separation
OF Church and State and other nalenable rights of
the people Strange to say that demands so natural
De looked upon mere as q ulrect neeatl0n OF
the powers OF government ''by the grace OF God;'
but as these claims can never be silenced until the
country Is governed de fdcto consututionallv, the
presumption must be that rigid apsoutsm VIII not
be able 10 take roct in the new empire and that,
with the addition OF the liberal elements from the
South, the parliamentary light will rebound in the
end TO the advantage OF constitutionaism.
FINANCES.
How little the important budget right OF the people
aas been respected is shown by the present discus
sion in the Diet, where the report OF committee
deDounces the illegal action OF the former Finance
nn6 dfftrrn nf
public funds for railway purposes contrary to the
conditions OF the appropriations of the Chamber.
FOR THIS violation OF the constitution the fact of
which is undlsputed by all partes the present Fl
nance Minister requests the Chamber to grant IN
the former Minister. millionaire In the widest
sense OF the woro, should be held responsible. But
al opposition just at this time, is futile, and large
majority voted that The state should suffer the loss,
as an impeachment OF or suit against former Ca bi
net Minister is looked upon as lnopportune anu un
Erecedented.
The most important matter of ALL however, is the
CHURCH AND STATE QUESTION,
Minister Of Public instruction. Won Mlhler. seems
bound to stand or fall. When this bone Of conten-
ton shall come up In the German Parliament, CON-
posed, as II Will be- OF numerous Catholic members,
the strife Is sure 10 very hot, and will not be
allayed by temporizing measures The opposition
III Prussia does not accord 10 the State government
direct control OF the affairs OF the Church. This
revolutionary view is deprecated By Won Muher,
says:-"The affairs Of the Evangelical Church are
regulated and administered by the King in person.
II is true, indeed, that the old Palatlnes OF
Brandenburg exercised complete control over
the Church, and the same prerogative has
been maintained ever since by the monarchs
OF Prussia without regard 10 the contradiction that
temporal monarchs have no power In the Kingdom
OF Christ Can there be O better proof OF the con.
servatism the Germans than their having suffered
for centuries such an undue interferenceY When
ever Tor the last 800 years public road was to be
constructed they were allowed to deliberate over it,
book These must, forsooth, be thrust upon them
by the royal Consistorles. AS for the
FREEDOM OF TIE PRESS
II is in the most pitu condition and con1Scations
OF all journals which dare 10 have in the least an
independents opinion are the order OF the day. Any
dlsapproyal OF Official action, any word OF sympa
tny for the distresses or the French neighbor any
blame OF anything well accredited with the govern
ment, Is visited with persecution and fines. The
most ordinary proceedings OF military commanders
who wish 10 give vent to their spite against liberal
organs Is 10 prohibit their distribution, and this
several frankfort journals In particular How as
,oniShsd VIII the faces OF the Southern members IN
the Relchstau look when these grievances OF their
Northern brethren are brought before them IN their
full dimensions But this is trine when COM
pared Win otner defects respecting the fundamental
rights enjoyed or rather not enloyed by the leope
OF Prussia. Were we 10 speak exhanstivey on such
topics We might I'LL dozen OF closely printed col
umns, and astonlsh many native or the United
States. But let u5 conrne ourselves 10 what ban-
pened only short time ago, to show up one OF the
ugly deformities OF absolute monarchism and its
utter disregard OF the rights OF the people. A
ukase, dated Versailles January p. 1871 ana signed
by Emperor King William, has reference TO the
DUTY OF ARMY OFFICERS,
and says:-"lt has come 20 my knowledge that at
the late mobilization several Officers OF the standing
army have contracted marriage without my consent.
therefore take occasion, without advertlng to the
legal punishment attending such a proceeding to
make known that every such marriage is legally null
ana VOID, and can only obtain legal validity by the
celebration OF the rites second time and with my
consent. The Minister OF War win make this known
10 the arny.r IL may be necessary TO explain 10
the transatlantic reader the meaning OF this amlabe
royal decree. The old royal law Of Prussia enacts
that every suhaltern pfcer. including all below the
rank OF colonel, cannot marry without the peImls-
sion OF the commander Of the regiment, who In his
turn has obtain the consent oi the King. THIS Is
not given unless-to say nothing OF The blameless
reputation and social standing OF the brlde-a legal
ccltihcate vouches that. exclusive OF the officers
pay, the future pair nave AN abundant annual
revenue. This old law was revised and completed
In 1885, anu It's evident object was to prevent of-
GERS and tleir families from falling upon the state
for support on the sudden outbreak of tue present.
war some OF them, before rushing 10 the field TO
shed their blood for Fatherand, may have entered
wediock without observing the letter OF the law. u
they are ye, alive tney may according 70 the loyA