The sun., 1890-01-25
Recent Incidents in the Relchstag.

No one doubts that the militarism which
STILES the liberties Of Germany, and for
which BISMARCK is mainly responsible, will
| last as long as the Chancellor. But how long
will 1t survive himp How long will the
young Emperor be able, after losing his
principal adviser, to withstand the clamor
for Ministerial accountability to the peoples
representatives ? Who else but BISMARCK
can govern In defiance OF the fundamental
principle Of the parliamentary system3 In
dications Of the trouble reserved for his sue
cessor have been dscernible during the last
weeks debate on the anti-Socialist bill In
the Rechstag. Taunted by one of the Chan
cellor's lieutenants with being a Guelph.
DR.. WNDTHoRsT, the leader Of hundred
Clerical Deputies, admitted and gloried in
the charge. Only few days later the union
of the so-called Cartel parties was shattered.
the National Liberals refusing to allow the
Government to expel the Socialists from
Germany. Let us look at these incidents,
and consider their bearing on the difficulties
likely to confront the Minister on whom the
mantle Of BISMARCK shall fall.
What is GUELPH A Guelph desires pri-
marily the restitution to the House OF
Hanover OF all its territorial rights In North
Germany. In the second place, the prin-
ciple on which this claim Is founded would
logically involve the restoration OF the Duke
Of Hesse-Cassel, the Duke of Nassau, and
all the other minor potentates whose do
minions were conflscated and Incorporated
with Prussia after the war Of 1866. In short,
the thorough application Of Guelphic doc
trines would out down the area Of Prussia
60 fha 4 rs,I,t hnRo
the year last named. The position taken by
the Guelphs is not indefensible on moral
grounds as DR. WNDTHoRsT has repeatedly
demonstrated; neither is it inconsist-
ent with the unity OF Germany, although
it unquestionably threatens the present
overwhelming preponderance Of Prussia.
That the conflscation Of Hanover was vio-
lation OF law and equity seems clear, when
we recall that In 1865 Prussia was O rebel
against the Frankfort Diet whereas Hanover
did but her duty in attempting to enforce
the mandate Of the Diet with regard to the
disposition Of the Elbe duchies. Hanover
did no more than was done by Bavaria; and
II the latter kingdom did not suffer the same
fate, 1t was because it was not needed to give
continuity to the Prussian territory. What
is here said of Hanover is true Of all the
smaller States incorporated by violence with
Prussia In 1866.
Have the absorbed districts gained sub
stantial advantages to console them for
their involuntary Prussianization On the
contrary. they have lost not only control of
their local affairs but many Of the safeguards
Of public liberty. After 1S4s almost every Ger
man State adopted parliamentary govern
ment In the genuine sense of the term. This
was true even OF Prussia until BISMARCK
began to govern In defiance Of the legisla-
ture some years before the outbreak Of his
war against the Frankfort Diet Now, on
the other hand, a native Of one of Prussia's
districts has only illusory political
rights. He can vote for q member of the |
but the privilege is of small value,
since the Emperors Minister'S repudiate |
to that assembly He may |
also, II he possess the prescribed amount of |
vote In q roundabout way for a |
member Of the Prussian Landtag (nominally |
to the lower House OF one OF |
our State Legislatures), but this assembly
has been shorn of virility and dignity since
It passed an act absolving and thanking
BISMARCK for his prolonged contempt OF
ts authority
But while the Guelphs wish to restore
homo rule and local parliamentary govern
nent to the smaller countries swallowed
Up by Prussia In 1866. they would not dis
,urb the fundamental institutions OF the em-
Dire. which they recognize as Indispensable
20 the unity OF Germany and the national
lefenoe. Not only would they retain the
but they would greatly magnify
ts power by exacting accountability OF the
imperial Ministers. They would retain the
Bundesrath or Federal Council, but, OF
course, the number Of Prussias representa-
ives In that body would be cut down In pro-
portion to the reduction of her territory. In
/ word. what the Guelphs aim at Is to Ger
nanlze Prussia instead OF permitting Ger
many to be Prussanlzcd.
Precisely this was the purpose of the
PATRIOTS OF 1913 when, in the Frankfort Par
lament, they offered the imperial crown of
Germany to the Prussian sovereign. Had
he offer been accepted, Prussia would have
oeen Germanized, and the Germans would
nave gained at one stroke both unity and
liberty To the divorce OF those blessings
Germany is far from being reconciled. That
3 why the National Liberals have Joined
hands with their old comrades, the Pro-
,ressists, TO prevent the expulsion OF their
socialist brethren from their common coun-
ry. They are also committed to the prin-
'iple of ministerial responsibility, and,
when the staff of BISMARCK is trans
erred to weaker hands. they will
certainly combine with the Progresslsts. the
iuelphs. and the Socialists to extort from
he KAisor the desired concession. Nor need