The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1886-03-31
BIsMARCK's COUP DE ETAT.


Bismarck has threatened, with his usual
brutal frankness, coup de etGt on the German
Parliament. He reminded his hearers, while
making a speech on the necessity of increas-
ing the Imperial revenue, of the fate Of the
old Bundestsg, that was founded upon
treaties and laws, and that Germany was con-
tented to see fall, "and the Reichstag might
possibly have similar end If it refused to
fulfill its duties to the Empire" This is
surprisingly like the speeches of the Kings
of France to the Tiers Etats, before those
Kings concluded to do without that body al
together. But we can see no resemblance
between the German Reichstag, that in its es-
sence is representative of nation, aud func-
tionary to national legislation and the old
Bund that was, at best, patched-up affair,
consisting in fact, of Ministers Plenipoten-
tiary to the German Empire from the indie
pendent Western German States and Princi-
palities. The Reiehstag, while in a sense
representative of these same States, has lost
its ministerial character and become merged,
to a great degree, as representatives of the
German people and of the Empire, rather
than of the Principalities.
The Bund was nothing more than po-
htical alliance of independent powers and
that it readily melted away under the aspir-
atoms for National unity that took tangible
shape after Sadowa, and became distinctly
formulated in a homogeneous federation at
Versailles, was natural in that its relations
were international, rather than national or
popular. None but German in Germany
can tell just how far the Reichstag is vet
representative of the disintegrating tenden-
cies of the principalities toward more COM
plete autonomy, or whether there is not
yet among these states some of that ancient
virus that made them the football of
French and Austrian diplomacy for CEN
turtles, and not apparent only to the Ger
man diplomatic service.
But most probably the trouble Bismarck
finds with the Reichstag is in the fact that
it is becoming a rising and powerful ex-
ponent Of the popular voice. 1t has shown
restiveness lately at increasing the already
over-burdened tax lists, and thrice has posi-
lively refused to consider Bismarck's meas
ures. But Bismarck must have money. His
heavy arrangements and colossal plans re-
quire more and more and more, and the
Germans, overpopulated and poor, and al
ready staggering under the load, can not
give more. There is danger that Bismarck
will stir up the slumbering spirit of Democ-
racy all throughout Germany unless it soon
becomes evident that the sacrifice is de-
manded as a measure of national existence.
This Bismarck is endeavoring to supply by
driving public attention to the old watch on
the Rhine. German papers TEEN with fierce
invective against their ancient enemy
of Gaul, but the Gaul gives no
sign. at least, that he is any
thing but the peaceable money making citi-
zen he appears to be, quietly getting along
with his Republic. Unless there is more rea-
son for this alarm than appears on the sur.
face, Bismarck is liable to overshoot the.
mark in directing German eyes on the Rhine.
German eyes, while searching for objects of
aggression, may see more in the peaceful
French Republic than enemies. They may
be led to contrast themselves as the conquer
ng people with the people they have con-
quered, and be led to wonder why the hard
conditions of war seem to have reversed
themselves, and draw conclusions that Re-
publics, after ALL are better than Empires,
especially as they see that great tax lists are
no longer required to keep up the state of the
crown, and the many Princes and nobility of
Germany, that collectively drain so much of
the resource of the people. Bismarcks pol
icy is bold, it must be brilliant and progress
siveIy successful to succeed. 1t will fall on
the first reverse, as the Third Napoleon's fell.
1t would not be unfair, as Germany gave
Republic to France for France to give a Re-
public to Germany. Stranger things have
happened.