The sun., 1872-11-09

sia. The Emperor and Ministry are en-
gagged in a contest against the fcudal utis-
tocrncy in behalf Of popular rights, while
the House of Peers Is resisting the meas
ures of reform urged by the Crown and
the Liberal party with such stuhbornness
that the reconstruction OF the House ap-
pears to be the only practical moans ot
overcoming liz opposition.
The measure which has brought about
this crisis in tho PrussIau Parliament is
bill introduced In the last session intended
10 extend the exercise Of self-government in
local affairs 10 the rural oommuues, which
heretofore have had no electoral voice in
the county assemblies, and TO greatly re-
strict the power Of the nobility. This bin
is generally spoken of ns the County Re-
form bill, rs its provisions relate princi-
pally to the regulation of representation
in the local governments Of the circles, or
counties. These counties, gen orally con-
thinning some JO0,O00 inhabitants or more,
may include twenty OF thirty communcs,
/ tie inhabitants of which have had no
voice whatever I'm the election OF the
county authorities, but all Of whom are
subject entirely to the control OF large
Iandholders, who I'm the county assemblies
have represented them by virtue of their
noble birth or their interest in landed
property. The new bill gives the pcasantry
fair vote in the election OF such repre-
sentatives, and takes away entirely the
| hereditary priv ilegcs Of the landhJldcTs
and heads Of noble families in this regard.
Since ls50 an cities having over 10000 in
habitants have had their own municipal
chartered governments, and have been rc-
presented in the county and provincial rs
sernblies. The new bill gives the rural
oommuucs representation in the county,
but not in the prov inciaI assemblies. IIithcr-
to the communcs have been cntirciy ut the
mercy ot the mobiles or large landholdcrs;
but the new bill provides for tho appoint
ment OF an executive officer for each com
mune by the Crown. Although the cities
under the existing laws have sent rcpresen-
tatives TO the county assemblies, they have
actually had little influence In the dclibc-
raticns Of thosc bodies, as they have always
been i'm IA minority: 80 that the nobility
who nominally represented the communes
have exercised almost absolute power III
all this local legislation. The practical
operation of the new bill will be "a strip
this privileged class Of their extraordinary
powers aud place them on footing with
other classes in proportion as they contrib
ute in taXeG to the support II the Govern
ment.
Another pri ,ilege which the feudai Ui.,
tocracy have always enjoyed Is taken away
from them 10y the County Reform bill.
This il the exercise Of police rights on their
own estates since 1870 the Governrnent
hns assumed tho general administration OF
the police; but ON their own estates the
large proprictorS yet exercise complete
control over al the ordinary duties dovolv-
ing upon tho police, including the
inspection Of elections, which gives them n
power considered too dangerous to he left
in their hands. The proposed abolition of
, these police rights is resented Ivy the nobil-
iiy with exceeding bitterness, and forms
one OF their principal causes Of conn ,laint
, The reforms contemplated by this bill
have long been advocated by the Liberal
party, and constitute only the first step
toward sweeping changes IN the general
! prlisenu administration. IL was late In
, tho last session of Parliament when the
I measure passed the Chamber of Deputies,
and when il reached the Upper House the
, Peers, who were little inclined TO rcnounco
= the privileges which gave them 80 great
Importance, permitted the session 10 ox-
, pire without disposing OF the measure,
hoping 10 defeat it by DELAY. But Prince
, BisM tRCK, who did not relish the ids4l oi
beginning anew the work oi passing the
+, bill, Crcumvented tho Peers by having
= the session declared adjourned, instead Of
prorogued, so that In the ensuing session
{ the debate could be resumed whore il wns
: | left In July last.
Upon the reopening of Parliament there
fore in October the Upper House was
obliged to take up the interrupted discus
r sion at once. But although the bill was
urgently pressed as "a Government meas
. urc, and the intimation was distinctly
made that unless il should receive the sano-
, ton of the Peers the Parliament would be
dissolved, the aristocratic opposition man
. ifcstrd itself more stubbornly than ever
r Nearly All the members declared strongly
: against the measure, denouncing II rs
= republican aud revolutionary in its cher
a"ter, and threatening the downfall of IN,
= most cherished Institutions OF the country
: Finally, on the last day OF the month the
bill was defeated. The cable says the vote
= stood one hundred and forty-!lSe against
the bill To eighteen IA its favor; but thi'
, must be - mistake. The minority In tn,
/ House could not have been 50 small M thnt
r There are quite a number Of Liberals II
4 the Upper House, In which there are thirty
I members elected Ivy the principal cities
y and il is Incredible that u bill so strongly
advocated by the Government should have
: commanded only eighteen supporters. Il
4 l. more probable that the vote stood one
n hundred aud forty-Ayo to one hundred
h and ephtaen, there being over three hun
!, drCd members in all.
= But whatever the majority might hay,
Il been, the bin was defeated; aud on the fol
/ lowing day tho Emperor fulnllrd his thIea
= OF dissolving the Parliament, and orderc,
I new elections, which are certain to result
). in the return of u Chamber of DepGtie
e which will contain an overwhelming Lib
- eInl majority. The action OF the Peers II
I, this matter has excited popular feel M
= very strongly against them, and tho pro