The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1890-07-17
The German Constitution Elk
planned.

On November 81, 1900, the PIuS-
sian government extended to the
governments of the twenty-five al
lied states invitations for confer
ence, which should 5e held at Ber
lin, and should sit in council over a
new constitution of the North-G
man Confederation. Bismarck
opened the sessions on December
x, 1866. by introducing a draft of a
constitution, and by emphasizing in
his preliminary address what seemed
to him most essential for rendering
this union strong. "The German
Union" he said, "hitherto did not
accomplish the purpose for which it
was formed in two respects: it did
not secure for its members the prom
ised safety; and it did not free the
development of Germany's public
veal from the letters which the his
toric formation of the inner boun-
diaries hail imposed If the new
constitution is to avoid these defects
and the dangers connected with
them, it is necessary to knit the al
lied states more firmly together by
establishing a uniform central man
agement of military affairs and of in
ternational politics, and by creating
common organs of legislation in
matters of common national interest.
On February I, 1867, the confer
ence, after discussing the original
draft and offering several amend
ments, had agreed upon all the arti-
Giles, and resolved that the Constitu-
ton should, in the first confederate
Diet elected by universal direct suf>
frage, be submitted to the represen-
tatives of the people for approval
The elections took place on Febru-
airy I2th, and on the 24th of the
same month King William opened
the first session of parliament by a
mastery speech from the throne. A
new party, which called itself Ma
tional Liberal, formed the majority
in this new legislative body. 1t con-
sisted of patriotic men from from all
the states who had left the Progress
sive Liberal Party of former days
and sided with Bismarck. On
March 4th Bismarck laid the new
constitution before the ReirhStag,
which entered upon debates before
a final adoption of the document
He strongly advocated quick action,
and declared that cit had not been
intended to set up theoretic ideal
of a constitution, but to avoid the
mistakes of former times, and to find
minimum of those concessions
which the single states must make in
favor of the universal common
wealth, in case the latter is to gain
vitality" "Let US put Germany in
to the saddle" he remarked. 81
dare say it can ride" After forty,
one amendments had been agreed
upon, the constitution was adopted
by the ReicAstag on April 10, 1867,
and the amendments having met
with the approval of the allied gov
ernments, the document was off
cially promulgated on June 18th,
and became law on July I, 1867. 1t
has remained the basis on which first
the North German Confederation
and afterward the German Empire
became established, for the "Constl-
tuition of the German Realm -
which was, after similar legal pro-
cedure, promulgated on April 16,
1871, when the southern states had
joined the northern confederation,
differs very slightly from the original
instrument.
The constitution vests the power
of Legislation in two assemblies the
Bundewath (Fecleral Council), anal
ogous to the American Senate, and
the ReitAStag (Diet), analogous to
the American House of Representa-
tiveS. The Federal Council con-
sists of delegates from each state,
appointed by their respective gov
ernments. The Diet is elected by
universal direct suffrage The pres
idency (bres9dIum) of the union is
vested in the King of Prussia, who
since 1871 bears in that capacity the
title of German Emperor He rep
resents the union in its international
relations; he declares war in the
name of the union, but since 1871
the concurrence of the Federal Coun.
Gil is required for this purpose. except
in case of invasion; he concludes
peace, and enters into alliances and
treaties with foreign states, but
since 1871 treaties must be ratified
by both Houses if they deal with
matters which belong to the sphere
of confederate legislation; and he
sends and receives ambassadors. He
is also chief commander of the army
and navy. The Chancellor. who is
appointed by the Presidency, is the
Chairman and Moderator of the Fed.
eral Council Legislation rests en-.