The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-08-03

ia no Ioubt that the German Liberals vigor-
ously supported the North German Con-
federation, and afterward favored the for
nation OF the German empire. In the BELIEF
that they were promoting the attainment
OF national liberty rs well as union.
They assumed that the erection OF
a ReichstaR on the basis OF universal
suffrage would be inevitably followed by an
application to tho empire az whole OF the
system OF Ministerial accountability. which
already prevailed In Prussia and other con-
stituent States. Those expectations would
Enthusiastically have been fulfilled had a
less intlexible and powerful statesman oc-
cupied the post OF Chancellor. For. after
all, the Reichstag can, II 1t likes. refuse APP
preparations; It yields the power OF the
purse, which according to oil precedents
ought in the last resort to prove decisive.
Nor would It be disputed that. had the
Opposition in that body possessed such
leader as BISMARCK. 1t could by
the use OF strictly constitutional
pressure have forced the Emperor to
appoint Ministers acceptable to the peo-
pies representatives. But during the
twenty years that followed the first session
OF the Reichstag. the advocates Of Ministe-
rial responsibility found in BISMARCK an
unwavering opponent: and although they
might sometimes muster a Legislative ma
jorlty against him. he always had the coun-
try at his back. Against BISMARCK. there
fore. they never dared to proceed to ex-
tremities: and thus it has happened that In
Germany we have witnessed the extraordi-
nary spectacle Of a country governed by
10, To- b<>o foh RI a
peror alone. and who yet are utterly de-
dependent for ways and means upon pop
ular assembly chosen by universal suf-
frage. 1t Is tho personality OF Bis
MARcK. hitherto arrayed upon the side OF
arbitrary government. which explains tho
existence OF such an anomaly at the close
OF the nineteenth century. 1t Is impossible
that the anomaly should continue to exist
much longer. II he is at last prepared to
cast tho weight Of his influence. his expo
rience. and his abilities into the popular
scale. Even now. in the last stage Of his
public life. he can. by putting himself at
tho head OF the party demanding Ministe-
rial accountability. force tho Kaiser to re-
ceive him for his Chancellor. and complete
the record OF his patriotic service by making
Germany not only unified. but free.
1t would be ungracious and unreasonable
on the part Of the German Liberals to &C.
cept with reluctance and distrust the con-
version OF BISMARCK to their fundamental
principle on the ground that it comes
late. Almost all the great conquests OF
political reformers have been made by such
conversions. To the tardy awakening OF
Sir ROBERT PEEL. the head OF the political
party which had been hitherto the mex
orable opponent OF BRIGHT and Golden.
England owed the emancipation Of her in
dustries by the repeal OF the Corn laws.
To the enlightenment OF Mr.. GLADSTONE.
when he had passed the Scriptural limit Of
threescore and ten. Ireland will be in
debted for the concession OF self-govern-
ment. 1t was NJ. THEIRS. who had been
throughout the best part OF his
life a resolute upholder Of the July
monarchy. who nevertheless dealt DEATH
blow to the monarchical principle by de-
clsring that republic was the only posi-
Bile form OF government for France. Such
recruits from the ranks OF enemies have
always been considered Of the utmost posi-
BILE value. for their advent BODIES collapse
and overthrow to the party they abandon.
1t would be hard to overrate the conse-
Quences OF the reputation Of absolutism by
Prince BISMARCK. Let him proclaim in the
Reichstag the programme which he seemed
to indicate at Jena: let him insist that
system Of parliamentary government con-
coded to their Prussian subjects by the
HoHENzoLLERNs should a fortiori be ap-
piled to Germans as a whole. and he may
effect a constitutional revolution in the
German empire.