New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1879-07-17
Bf>nARCKS IDEAS OF GOVERNMENE.

1 -
Bismarck is a statesman who likes to keep
good many irons in the fire. He is the EN-
peroI's lieutenant in every department OF adj
mnisration, and he makes 1t his business to
manage not only the Ministers and the Par
| lament but the people as well. He does tins
| by being all things to all political parties and
by adapting himself To circumstances. Since
| the adoption of the Anti-SOcialist bill 1T has
! been his aim to prevent the spread OF dlsaifec-
! ton in the Empire by dIvertiDg the currents
| of public thought into new channels.
many sided domestic policy has given the
people new things to think about. The radi-
| cal change wrought in the customs schedules
| has been discussed not only by every chamber
Of commerce in the cities, but wherever towns
people or villagers have met together to
drink beer and talk politics. The Tariff Act
has carried with it undetermined concessions
10 the Vatican, the reorganization OF the MIN
istIies and the collapse of the political party
which has shaped the fortunes Of the Empire
since Sadowa and Sedan and scarcely has the
Reichstag adjourned before sweeping changes
IN the Constitution are proposed IN the Bundles
rath. The Chancellor's brain teens with ex-
| pedients and surprises. Never has he been
buster or more ingenious, and never before SO
snOrtsghted.
The scheme of constitutional revision which
he has nfolded is rs reactionary as his &C.
clesiastical policy. 1t c0ntemplates the sub
s,itntion OF biennial for annual sessions OF
the Legislature, and releases the Government
for two years from Parliamentary control
over taxes and expenditures. The annual
budget is to be replaced by biennial apprOpria-
a.. IL IN hp
lated by n Government bureau without inter
ference from the Reichstag. The Grown gains
what the Parliament loses, when, as the Con-
stitution now stands, the Parliament has little
enough to lose. When the Empire was
founded. citizenship was granted as common
night, and the States were bound together by
a tariff and representative Parliament. But
while there was Parliament elected by uni
yersa Suffrage, there was little Parliamentary
government. The laws were revised by the
Reichstag after they had been framed by the
Bundesraih the Pnvy Council elected by the
States, but the popular Assembly had no control
over the constitution OF the Ministry or the
| policy of the Government save IN voting
or Withholding supplies. Whenever "A Minister
ceased to be IA flexible instrument of the I'M
| perial policy he was replaced by one who
would be more pliable, and there was no chal-
lenge to the Parliamentary majority. During
| The war with Austria Bismarck had raised
money on his own responsibility, and as Chan
cellor of the Empire he reserved for himself
the largest executive power under the Crown.
EIe was unwilling To put other Ministers on an
equality with himself, and he had no faith IN
the responsibility of a Minister who could be
displaced by Parliament. Parliamentary gov
eminent, as it is known in England, France
and Italy, is unknown in the Fatherland; and
the little that stands for it is now to be brought
within Il narrower compass.
The tendency of the Tariff Act is in the
direction of Capitalization. If Bismarck can
substitute for the payments made by tho
State Governments an income over which the
State Governments have no control, he will
strengthen the Imperial Administration. But
while he is anxious to diminish the influence
of the States in the Federal Council, he is I'M
creating an Imperial Ministry which will be
responsible to the Imperial Parliament. In
hls scheme Of government the Crown is
omnipotent the Cabinet is circle of bureau
Gratis OF clerks working under the direction of
the soveregn's right-hand man and the
Parliament is a cumbrous and rather unneces-
sary piece of legislative machinery for
registering the will of the Crown. The Chan
cellOr becomes moro and more of a Junker as
he grows older
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