The sun., 1893-06-14
The German People Will Speak To-
morrow.

When one recalls the meagre political
privileges possessed by Germans thirty
years ago. it Is wonderful proof OF prog
ress which will be witnessed at the ballot
box tomorrow throughout the countries
which collectively constitute the German
empire. Every male inhabitant. provided
he be Of the requisite age and Is not dis
qualified by conviction Of a crime, or by
being actually In service under the colors,
will have right to say whether a military
project, passionately desired by the EN-
peror and by him proclaimed indispensable,
shall be carried out. Strange to say. the
statesman, by whom this right was recog-
nzed and embedded In the organic law of
the empire. Is the very man who, thirty
years ago. stood forth as the most aggres-
sive champion of absolutism and the most
defiant violator Of constitutional conces-
sions. II the Socialists see fulfilled their
hope OF returning sixty members to the
popular assembly, they should acknowledge
that they owe the power OF such impressive
self-assertion to their old enemy, Prince
BISMARCK. who was persuaded. 1t is gene
rally believed, by FERDINAND LAssALLE. to
give the new imperial system broad and
deep foundation by providing that the
Reichstag should be chosen by universal
suffrage.
Thirty years ago the prospects OF LIBERAL
Ism In Germany seemed irremediably dark
ened. The wave OF aspiration. which had
swept over the Fatherland In 1s4S. had spent
its force, and everywhere reaction had
either attained its ends or seemed upon the
eve OF triumphing. In some countries, as
In the Mecklenburgs. the rulers piaued
themselves upon adherlng to medieval
principles. and made no pretence OF con-
sulting their subjects regarding legislation.
In others. as in Electoral and Grand Ducal
Hesse. the privileges extorted by the ma
tlonal uprising had been wholly or partially
reclaimed by counter revolutions. In still
others, as In Hanover. the contempt OF the
sovereign for the popular assembly was un-
disguised. and threatened to take at any
hour the form OF abolishlng parliamentary
institutions. Everywhere. and particularly
In tho Diet OF Frankfort. Austria was en-
couraging the princes to break the pledges
given twelve years before. to stamp out the
seeds Of political equality, and to retstab-
lish the arbitrary regime which to Met
TERNICH and his disciples had seemed
Prussia, to which the patriots OF ls4s had
offered the imperial crown. believing her
marked out by her traditions and her
dynastic interests to oppose the Austrian
programme. had apparently gone over to
tho reactionists. had ignored the rights of
her Landtag. and was raising soldiers and
levying taxes In spite OF the protest OF the
peoples representatives. or the Germans
who will vote tomorrow tens Of thousands
can remember these things. and they
must see that the war for which Prussia
had begun to prepare In 1868. was the indis-
pensable condition Of the downfall OF abso-
lutism. that the HoHENzoLLERNs. In spite
Of their shortcomings. were destined to be
the saviors OF the Fatherland. and that
to BISMARCK Germans are indebted. not
only for their national unity but for that
power over the purse which is the safe
guard OF peoples liberty.
About the existence Of this power there |
can be no mistake. and one salutary effect |
OF the vehement discussion o; principles.