New-York tribune., 1882-02-21
coyTP tSTS or EUROPEAY POLITICS.


It is a remarkable fact that since the year
| opened the three most conspicuous statesmen
| in Europe have hazarded their political 10r-
tunes in upholding their own ideas respecting
| institutional government and parliamentary
procedure. These are Prince Bismarck, NJ.
Gambetta and Mr.. Gladstone. Differing widely
in aims and methods, they have cOntrivcd one
and all to make their Interpretation OF abstract
principles of political government a turning
point in personal policy. The coincidence Is
one which deserves close analysis especially as
there are strongly-dciincd lines of contrast in
national types. political systems ana personal
characteristics.
In Germany, where there is an iTemovablc
government and an unmanageable majority IN
Parliament, Prince Bismarck has proclaimed
III the ROYAL Rescript the absolute Impotence
of parliamentary institutions, and defended
his poSitiou with characteristic cynicism in the
Reichstag. He reminded the Deputies with
almost brutal impatcnce that in Prussia the
King not only reigns but actually governs;
that the constitutional supremacy Of the House
and the constitutional absolutism Of the Min
istry are igmcnts of disOrdered Imagination;
and that the King commands, and his servants,
the Ministers, must obey. Justliyng the Royal
Rescript on the ground that 1t was timely
definition of principle of prerogauve which
had become obscured in popular discussion, he
cOntcnded with mastery force that the Ger
man States would not have been united nor the
grand army formed, if the views OF conStltu-
tional tacticians had prevailed 1t WAS strong
and vigorous royalty which had brought the
great achievements of the quarter-centuly
within the reach of the Fatherland. Parlia-
mcntarv 90, ernment had not done anything for
Prussia for if the policy of parliamentarlanS
had been followed in 1864 there would have
tcen a second OimiitZ and there would have
been no Reichstag to-day. With taunts such
as these-rcproaches which could not be an
swered by the parliamentary pursts opposed
70 him-he caused an upr0ar on the ilC0r ana
retired in triumph, having worsted the Liberals
in debate and established the cOnstltutlonaIty
of the Rescript. Having heapcd indlgnitlcs
upon Parliament he made nc further effort to
manage it, but let it off few days aftcrward
when the budget had been passed. There has
been no legislation worthy of the name; the
insurance bill, tobacco monopoly and other
measures heralded in the EmperOrs speech
have not even been introduced and the Gov
ernment having reasSerted the traditional prln-
ciple of its responsibility, suffers the Rechs-
tag to bear the reproach of its own helpless
ness and sterility.
In France, where there is a removable gov
ernment and an unmanageable majority, NJ.
Gambetta has proclaimed the impotence OF
Ministers that are supported by the groups in
the Chambers. When the general elections
were held last year, partial revision of the
Constitution was a feature of nearly every
electoral programme on the Republican side.
NJ. Gambetta had made it the main issue of the
campaign, and VI. Ferry, who was then Pre-
mier after an Intellectual effort to modify it,
was forced to accept it. When the Chambers
met, the new Premicr's ascendancy was pro-
claimed by acclamatiOn, and while his choice
of Ministers and his official programme caused
surprise and disappointment, the votes for
which he asked were given with remarkable
docility. Up to this point VI. Gambetta had
found the majority entirely manageable, and if
he had been willing to suppress the main issue
with which he had been identified before the
country, there would have been 40 immediate
collapse OF his parliamentary influence. This
he would not consent to do. lie was indiier
ent TO success i'm minor matters of legislation, if
he could not count upon inc uhDTohtu support
Of the Chambers when his greatest measure
tie revision of the electoral systems of both
Chambcrs-should be bioachcd. As the most
popular leader and the most eloquent orator Of
his party, hc had been heralded as the Great
Minister, and he resolved to stand or fall by
his most Characteristic measure, and not to
20 down like the small Ministers who had pre-
ceded him. So the majority which had ac-
claimed his accession to Office 0ccrced his down
fall when he sought to work out his own policy.
3 In England, where there is a removable gov
crnmcnt and a manageable, albeit il-organizcd,
majority in the Commons, Mr.. Gladstone has
proclaimed the impotence OF Parliament
which is hampcred, crippled aud paralyzed by
autiquatcd forms of procedure. Although the
responsibility of the Ministry is fully defined,
it does not suffer from any lack Of power or
efficiency, but is encrEizcd by the supreme func-
tons of constitutional life. 1t is not the Min
istry that is weak and unstable, as is the case
in France. 1t is the Parliament which lacks
vigor and efficiency; and this paralysis is not
caused, as in Germany. by the irresDonsibiliy