New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-03-14
FREDFRICK'S PROCLAMATION

A diving Emperor's proclamation follows the
dcath-bcd EXPLANATIONS Of his august father'
Frederick III may have returned to Berlin
moro erect in bearing and more vigorous men
tally than the most sanguine Of his surgeons
dared to hope, but he is battling with an mex
orable malady, and is doomed at the best 10
have only short reign. Even II nc mas ever
contemplated the adoption of a liberal pohcy
of parliamentary REFORM he would now snrihh
from the hcrculean task as ono for when MS
cnfeeblcd condition inevitably unilts hihi' III
decd no monarch with so weak hold upon
life "a he has would be justified in undertake
ING The mission of political reform IN Ter
many. Prince Bismarck's services would nave
n he dispenscd with at the outset, if f1ederlcK
Ill desired to carry into practlcc inc n"cia'
ideas with which his English admirers nave
credited him in the past: and The lmpossioi,'J
of finding n substitute for the Chancellor III INC
present critical state of European affairs wou'a
dc,er n sovereign favored with robust hcalth
from making premature attempts to chahSc
tho no,iticaI order of the Empire. The Elm
n.rors proclamation contains no evidence OF
any disposition on his part TO depart III 'no
slightest respect from The principles ana precc-
dents of his fathers reign. during inc fci'
nant of his life. far as he can cohtfoi 'io
destiny of his country, everything Will 60 Oh
as before. ~
Thoughtful students of German aliairs VIII
bo slow to- believe that any fundamental
changes in the political or parliamentary s!s-
TENS will be effected for many years. "mic
Prince Bismarck lives and Europe is menaced
with tho outbreak of great war; radical re-
forms arc out of the question; ana IL Is ihoio
than doubtful if citho Prince William or an!
sovereign or regent who may follow freu-
cr;ck III will of his own motion introduce
liberal measures. Sovcregns are 'nVariaoiy
moro conservative than their subjects ana only
take the initiative in introducing reforms when
nopular pressure is brought to bear upon them.
With the army so absolutely III con'LOl OF Inc
centres of population as it is in Germany,
revolutionary movements arc not TO be apprc-
hendcd. Pressure upon the throne must 10
cxerted by organized political agencies-ei'her
by parties in the Rcichstag or by the electors
themselves. No party in the present keichS-
tag is anything more than minority Hctloh'
Since the earliest years Of the Empire no single
party has had clear majority OF the depu-
lies. No political agencies in the Relchs'
tag now have or seem likely to have in the
near future sufficient authority to recommend
reforms of drastic nature. The constituent
c;cs themselves seem to lack both disposition
and power to make themselves heard decisive
" in favor OF liberal measures.
The defect in the German political system
which is most frequently criticised in progicS-
siye countries is the exemption of Ministers
M rcptcSfnt
the Crown, not the Reichstag. They arc
chosen invariably from the Conservative group
and remain in Office at the pleasure Of 'no
Emperor and his chief adviser, the Chancellor
They are Independent of political support and
votes of confidence. Their measures may be
rejected, but they themselves arc the
servants Of the sovereign and can
be discharged by him alone. This
is considered radical defect by European
constitution makers, and one which should be
speedily removed by radical measures Of re-
form. This may be true; but no sovereign
would be prepared to initiate such reform
until the conditions essential for efficient party
government existed in the Rcichstag. These
conditions do not now exist, since the Reichs-
tag is divided into dozen political groups,
the strongest or Whlch, inc Na'hoilc Oehtic' 10
the least favorable TO liberal ideas. This is
an excellent illustration of the practical diff
cuties in the way of political reforms in Ger
many The sovereigns Of the future will not
be likely to take a leap in the dark. They
will prefer, as Frederick III adirms in his
proclamation. "to maintain The fabric OF The
Empire in the spirit in which it was founded"