The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1875-01-25
The German Diet.


The German Diet.
Strictly speaking the German Empire is
not constitutional state, though 1t has many
of the forms of parliamentary government.
But there is strong and determined minor
ity of the Diet, made up of liberal, shrewd
and far-seeing politicians politicians in the
higher sense of the name) which is constant
ly incroaching upon the absolutism of the
government and slowly but not the less sure
ly paving he way for a liberal representative
monarchy. For the present no open war is
made, as these sagacious men perceive the
necessity of allowing the newly constituted
empire time to entrench itself in the a6ec-
tons of the people before attempting to mod
ity its spirit, and thus by engendering hostil-
ity endanger its recently laid foundations.
The Diet consists of two bodies, the Bun
desrath and the Reichstag. The Bun des-
rath, which is presided over by the Chancel-
lor of the Empire, is federal in its nature, be-
ing made up of fifty nine members represent
ing the twenty-siX states of the Empire. 1t
is the supreme board of consultation and adj
ministration, has veto on the war making
power, and in conjunction with the larger
body exercises the legislative authority of the
realm. There are, of course, no Liberals in
it, for each member is the representative Of
and appointed by sovereign.
The Reichstag is made up of 397 members
chosen by the people. OF this body, as at
present constituted, only about one-third are
in opposition, though it is divided into five
parties. The Imperial party, which repre-
sents the ultra-arstocratic and absolutist SEN
numbers 81 members. The Conservative
party, which bears much the relation to the
Inperialists that the Right does to the ex-
treme Right in the French Assembly, is led
by Count Won Moltke and numbers 21 men,
bers. These two parties are, of course,
classed with the friends of the government.
A third party is the Centre, made up of
Catholics, men eminent by birth or ecclesias-
tical preferment, or country gentlemen of
large landed estates. 1t numbers 94 MEM
bers and is led by Windhorst, Bismarck's
bitterest opponent, and by Father Majunke,
the German representative of the Vatican.
The natural place OF this party is, from its
aristocratic tendencies, with the government; /;
but the anti-Catholic policy of the Chancel-
lor has driven it into opposition. With it are
classed the Extreme Liberals, numbering 40
and made up mostly of doc.rinaiies and the
oretical Republicans, the Polish members. 13
in number, and the half dozen Particularists
! who represent the annexed provinces. As
will be seen, the opposition cannot be har-
monious one. There is no sympathy be-
tween the Centre, the only section whose
antagonism is serious and menacng, and the
other factions. The Extreme Liberals are
bitterly opposed to sacerdotatalsm, the Cath
olics have no inclination for a warfare
against absolutism, and both are cut off by
patriotism and national pride from alliance
with the Poles and the Alsacians.
The National Liberals, $50 members, are
the mainstay of the government. They are
the true friends and most powerful advocates
OF constitutional government in Germany,
and may be likened to the Left Centre in the
French Assembly. Previous to 1866 they
were in opposition, and were the strongest
opponents of the arbitrary policy of Bis
marck. But when war was declared against
Austria they proved themselves true patti OTIS
and had the good sense to warmly support
the government in its grand project for the
unifcation of Germany. The Franco-Prus-
sian war drew them still closer TO the gov
ment, and Bismarck had the wisdom to con-
cate them by relaxing his iron rule. They
have in no particular abandoned their liberal
ideas or plans. But they have placed them
selves in the position of firm defenders of the
Fatherland in its peril, and have approved
themselves practical men, who do not permi
blind adherence to theories to lead them to
oppose national unity or lend only a feeble
support to the prosecution of war for the
preservation of the national life. They are
justly entitled to the credit Of being the wisest
and most tar-seeing body of men which ever
shaped the opinions of political party, and
are in singular contrast with the opposition
on this side of the water. They are now in a
position, commanding as they do the respect
and confidence of the country, 10 labor sue
cessfuny for the liberalization of Germany.
Already, in quiet way, they have accom-
plished much, and must, almost inevitably,
succeed in their object.