The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-04-03

where is the difference between toy mon
arc en- and full-iiedged king?
When, later on, l had gone through half
uozsn back numbers of the Court Gazette,
already referred to, this question again
ana again obtruded itself The public no.
.ices and communications of the earl are
invariably printed at the head of the
sneet, beginning With the words, I'VE,
Anreo, by the grace of GOD, etc., ETC.
MnHe the official news articles are couched
IN terms of the utmost difference. Just
hstenl In the number of June "a, the
court editor informs a breathless populace
tnat his Erlaucht, the high born reigning
count and lord, has been graeiously
pleased 70 accept the resignation of his
member or two for the state con-
slstory," Then again it is stated, that
the highest appreciation has been
awarded to Woodcutter So and So, who
VIII assume the title and salsry of the
courts master woodcuttsr." And again:
"A messenger has been gwen the place of
second guard in his lordship's treasury by
his Erlauch's special grace and high per-
MISSION" The nomination of teachers.
chaplalus and parsons is published In
exactly the same style as that of woodcut-
tsrs and other servants.
have before me the Court Gazette of
January Is. 1852 containing an official no.
City OF Stolberg." warning all loyal citi-
zens, boys and girls in particular, to abb
stain from sliding down the Castle hill on
hand sieighs, or, wiliuily. on their backs.
In case OF disobedience fine of marks,
or Imprisonment, is threatened.
The same number gives an illustration
OF the mighty courts notion of appealing
to the moral sense of the people, for His
Erlaucht has gracioCsly authorized his
chief of police to publish then and there a
list of all Legitimate births that have oc-
CURED in this realm during the last twelve
months" And this is done "as warn
ing to the evil-doers and summons of
precaution to ALL"
The paper also contains a paragraph re-
lating TO the troubles of the Stolherg
minister of finance" with a certain Herr
Burkardt, tailor by trade and "a shift
less fellow" as the article sets forth in un-
measured terms. Burkardt, it appears,
kicked against his assessment of 81 pfen-
ings per month, and petitioned his high
ness for release. The earl, however, re-
fused to interfere sin matter of internal
government" such as this, and turned the
thing over to ''his secretary of the treas
ury," who had the case Investigated by
the police. Result, original assessment
upheld and fine of "a pfenings added
''for obstreperous, disloyal and unfaithful
behavior, unbecoming to a subject"
Seventy-five cents taxes per year and
fine for more than half that amountl Ri
diculous, you say? Well. SO it is; but
that isn't all.
This mighty ruler, this thirty times
millionaire, who imposes paltry assess
ment by the aid of uniformed lackeys.
bearing high-sounding titles, and who will
not probably shrink from taking this poor
wretch's last shirt in default of payment,
claims for himself and family the regalism
of exemption from all taxation.
10 ola inns obi nd t;n1-o 10 !
he as well as fourteen other toy monarchs
in Prussia. And this thing has been
going on ever since the Rhenish fedora
ton, already referred to, went to. smash in
1915.
1t seems almost incredible that Prussia,
the inventor of 1,001 vexatious taxes,
Prussia, whose government levies even on
occasional foreign visitors, should allow
her richest and most privileged class to go
scot free, but it is nevertheless fact. The
Liberals in the diet, as well as in the reichs-
tag, have tried again and again to abolish
this state of things, but failed as often as
they have tried. The opposition of the
crown" against abridgement of regalisms
in any form or shape was too much
for them. If they ever do succeed it will
be by reason OF an immense output of
money-'indemnity money" According
to last accounts the toy monarchs offered
to "settle" for just twenty-one times the
Just compensation. And the "crown" is
their acknowledged champion.
But the unlawful retention of the "pub-
lie domain" of Iheir territories, the exer-
ton of patriarchial government and i'm
munity from taxation are not the only IN
constitutional privileges by which the
semi-sovereigns profit.
In all states of the German federation
they enjoy exemption from army duty for
themselves and their kith and kin, and
become members of the different houses of
lords on the day of their birth. Another
universal privilege is that they may appeal
to their peers, the reigning monarchs, in
case of criminal charge being brought
against them. High born" murderers
'and wife slayers, as some of them are, can
not be expected to submit to the ordinary
law courts. Such process would involve
a curtailing of sovereign rights"
Bavaria goes still a step further than
the other states by allowing the toy mon
archs to import dutiable merchandise free
of charge.