Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-04-20
TuE GERmAs srRAFFoRD.

If there is a statesman in Europe that de-
serves the name OF political tricks.er" more
than any other now living, it ia Bismsrck.
He is the steady foe Of national freedom
and is continually seeking 10 sbridge the
liberties OF the people by restricting the
power Of their representatives IN the patton
al legislature and adding to that of the
Crown. In pursuing this policy ne does not
take manly attitude, openly Proolsiming
bis objects and seeking BY facts and argu
p,ents to secure the cooperation OF the leg
islators in accomplishing them. He seeks
By indirect movements, by cunning combine
tons and subile schemings to outwit his OPP
ponen,s and hoodwink the people. For
number Of years he has endeavored to coax
or drive :be legislature, the Reichs-
tag, into surrenderiug their night to
vote annually the appropriations for
the public expenditure, and TO substitute
biennial appropriation giving tie Crown the
supplies it asks for two years in advance.
Such a system, it is at once evident, would
make the Crown more independent Of The
peoples representatives, than when the APP
plicatisn for appropriations has to be laid
before the Reichstsg every year. With
steadfastness that does it credit, the Rsichs-
tag has refused this cool proposition to re-
duce the public power over The public APP
proprialions. Bismarck has now brought
his favorite project forward again, and in
manner consistent with his usual crsftinees
aud serpentine guile. List week the EN-
peror-the man Bismarck uses to shoot of
the arrows b. has whitfield into shape-seut
a special message to the Rsichstag, express
ing his royal solicitude for the working
classes, aud proposing that the leglsls-
ture should pass bill insuring a certain
income to sged and disabled workmen, and
also making provision for an allowance
such as are granted to their members by
when sick All this locks beautifully benev-
client, showing the consideration OF pious
and amiabe old mon arch for the welfsre Of
the people whom he loves. But this is not
ali. For the purpose of giving the Reichs-
tag time to discuss and periec. at the pres
ent session the Law required 10 establish the
insurance system that will so emiDsntly con
duce to the welfare Of the toiling popnla-
ton, the Emperor will kindly lay before The
legislators the estimates for 1884 and 1885 al
the same time These acted upon and out
of the way, there will be ample time at the
next session 10 act upon the bill in aid OF
the sick poor without neglecting other i'm
portant duties. Here is specimen of that
bad article of German production, Bis
marck dodge" If the Reichstag, from benev-
olence to the people, accepts the proposition so
insidiously made, 1t abridges the liberties of
the people by abolishing the custom of an
nuai appropri atoms. Ii 10 preserve pre-
cious liberty 1t refuse he plan, then Bis
marck will dissolve the Reichstag and appeal
| to the people against their own Legislators,
who prefer bunglirg over appropriations al
every years session to attending 10 the WANT
of the poor, for whom the Emperor's breast
sWells with sympstby, and TO giving that aid
| to the INDECENT sick which the kind hearted
monarch wishes to see extended, as one OF
| his last acts before leaving a world where he
has not long TO rem ain. The serpent in par
| adise did not speak with more subtlety than
| this 10 Eve. The German would do well 10
read the history OF the English Charles l ,
| aud 10 publish for circulation a narrative OF
the analogous policy of that monarch's min
| lister, STAFFORD, not for the purpose OF secur-
| ing to Eism arck the fate of STAFFORD, but oil
checking the interruptions policy that In
vites such . fate. We must do STAFFORD the
| Justice to say that there was manly audac-
| ily about him tha would not have stopped
to perpetrate the Bismarck dodge"