The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-18

had seized power. The mob threatened. and,
indeed. besieeed those members Of Parliament
whose attitude they ~dlsapproved Of" Bis
marck won't on 10 say that. away from the capi-
tai. the members OF the Reichstag need have
no fear OF the mountaineering press OF Bor-
lin. How many Of them have the courage to
despise that journalistic rnbblo I In revolu-
tionary times how many OF them would have
the courage to hold their ground against In
tlmidation and threats directed against their
life and honor7 Such tlmes may, possibly. re-
turn. In smaller towns II IL much easier to
protect them than here, where. In future. the
Progressists. the Jacobins. and the Socialists
win enter into . close alliance with the object
OF promoting the democratic aims which they
have in common Their fellows In Paris con-
cluded such an alliance In 1871. But, II these
parties were to come 70 an understanding In
Berlin, the friends Of order and OF monarchical
institutions would ind themselves in a minor
itY, and could not enforce their views. even II
all tho shades Of opinion into which they are
divided were to unite. That has been also
recognized elsewhere. In the United States.
Congress does not meet in New York. Philadel-
phia, st. Louls or Chicago. but In Washington.
n town OF medium size. which is usually very
quiet. The legislative assemblies Of the differ
ent States also meet In towns OF medium size.
or, indeed. sometimes In quite small places.
There were good reasons for the continuance OF
the French Chamberat Versailles. and 1t would
be almost a miracle II they do not one day
have cause to regret their return to Paris.
Even the removal Of Parliament from Berlin
to Potsdam would offer a certain guarantee
against the disadvantages and dangers which
l have described. Finally. II the Reichstag
were not domiciled In Berlin. IL would not have
such an enormous crowd Of Berliners among
its members. I" The German people have
a right to demand hat the Reichstag should
not be Berlinized." Having rung the bell and
obtained the Parliamentary Guide. the Chan
cellor ran through the alphabetical list OF mem
beers. in order to find out the Berliners. There
proved to be forty-six. nearly a sixth OF the
whole number elected 1917. and a far larger
proportion OF the ordinary attendance. 1t must
be remembered that in the German Empire resi-
dence in a given electoral district is not needed
in order to render one eligible therefrom.
We observe that under date Of May. 1891.
Bismarck. who had in mind his old age and
accident insurance plans. told Busch: We
shall dissolve IL we cannot carry our State
Socialism-our practical Christianity" "Prac-
tical Christianity ?" asked Busch. Did I
rightly understand your Serene Highness p
Certainly" he replied. compassion. a help
ing hand in distress. The State. which can raise
money with the least trouble. must take the
matter in hand. Not as aims. but as a right to
maintenance, where not the readiness. but the
power, to work fails. Why should onlythose who
have in battle become incapable OF earning a
livelihood be entitled to a pension, and not,
also, the rank and file of the army OF labor?
This question will force It's way; 1t has a
future. 1t Is possible that our policy may
be reversed at some future time when 1
am dead; but State Socialism will make its
way. Whoever takes up this idea again will
come to power. And we have the means. as for
instance. out OF a heavier tobacco tax" Under
date OF November. 1881. We come on another
remarkable utterance of the Chancellor's.
which confirms the impression that he did not
regard the existing Constitution Of the German
Empire. which he. himself. had devised. having
framed its model, that Of the North German
Confederation. as by any means immutable.
Abiding to the then recent elections, he OBJ
served to Busch: The Effectiveness OF our
institutions is shown by the credulity Of the
electors. 1t may come to this that we may,
some time. have to say Of the German Consti-
tuition. after all attempts at government and
reform under it have failed. as SchwarZenberR
said at 0lmntz: This arrangement has not
stood the proof But that must not be printed
now. 1t is only for yourself A little later in
the same month he again referred to the sub
ject. remarking suddenly: IF they go on in
that style they will. ultimately. meet the fate to
which I alluded-the luck Of Edenhall. You
know Uhland's poem ? II will be case Of bang!
and snap goes the German Constitution"