Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-06-21
After bismarck. What ]

Bismarck has lost his grip. The Reich
stays rejection of his pet measure, the
tobacco monopoly bill, is blow that he
ksels keenly, but the bold declarations Of
Herr Richter, in the course of the de-
hate would impel him. if he had the
mower. to lop off that statesmsn's head.
Herr Richter avowed that the time had
come to say to the Chancellor, THUS
far shalt thou 90, and no farther. This
brief utterance voices the sentiment of
the mass of the German people, and
Bismarck, imperious as he is, is shrewd
enough TO know it. Great as he is, he
has lived long enough to realize that be
has missed the grandest opportunity Of
his career.
The part he played in the creation of
German unity gave him prestige and
a mower that no German ever enjoyed
before hun, aud had he chosen to keep
pace with the strides of German thought
be might have achieved a greater tri-
umph in smoothing the path of parlia-
mentary government than he had won in
welding the fragments Of German nation
atty into the empire. He chose differ
emily. and, like other great ministers
that have preceded him, fought the spirit
of the sge, and now finds himself driven
nearer and nearer to the wall.
With him will die the theory upon
which he has conducted affairs, though
its practice will survive for time. His
policy of blood and iron" has built
around Germany wall of bayonets and
made her a terror in Europe. But the
cost of her security and prestige is bur
den which, if continued, will break the
backs of her people and mayhap bring
on one Of those social commissions which
affect not merely the locality where they
occur, but exert influence for good or ill
upon the world at large
The German empire has been built up
by race feeling, force, rare diplomacy,
wOndrOus outlay Of treasure and a
| fearful sacrifice of life. 1t can be pre-
served, but great changes must be
wrought in the conduct of its affairs
The struggle between the powers for
military and naval supremacy, if kept
up much longer, must be decided in the
only way possible, that is, by direct ap-
peal to arms. In fact, it would be the
very best thing possible for the people of
Germany to make the appeal and have
it decided. But whether they do or not,
burdens that weigh upon them must be
lightened R4lief can come only by the
establishment of actual parliamentary
| government, which is that of the people
speaking as they desire through their
representatives.
| Heretofore the German Parliament has
been little better than the Roman Senate
under the empire, simply registering
the wishes and DEGREES of Bismarck.
Such a state of affairs is irritating to the
people and unworthy of them. The
great Minister must soon pass away
and much that he has reared will fall,
but the German people will rule them
selves. Had Bismarck chosen, he might
have made the lesson easy for them, but
he elected otherwise, and, unless his
vanity is inordinate, he must feel regret
for his course.
Situated as the people are, their task
will be hard one, but they will learn
it, and out of the empire of to-day will
rise Germany worthy of the patriots of
the Fatherland, who, when all was dark,
did not lose hope, but kindled the fires
of nationality in the breasts of the de-
spairing.