The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1902-01-23

MINNESOTA, THURSDAY, ia
should l not avail myself of the op-
portunity to levy just tax? Do you
not sell these men like cattle! 2" And
he continued to collect it.
Besides constitutional government,
people wanted also new empire, built
on different foundation from the old
one. The majority felt that no good
for Germany could ever come through
Austria, and tho the Habsburgers had
for nearly $50 years reigned over Ger
many, the German parliament, sitting
in Frankfort on the Main, in 1849
rendered the imperial crown to King
Frederick William ". of Prussia. But
he, from mistaken idea of the divine
right of kings, and belief that the
imperial crown could be offered to him
only by the princes, not the people of
Germany, and further under the strong
remOnstrances of England and Russia,
was weak enough to decline it. Fur
thermore, the proceedings of the par
lament were declared to have been
reasonable, and the members of it,
together with those who had taken up
arms against their governments, had
to flee for their lives. Thus the years
1S49-185O brought great influx of well
educated Germans to this country
Think of Carl SchurZ
Germany was again ruled, as it had
been since 1915, by the German Bun
dest0g. This was body of represent
atives of all the German states,
presided over by Austria. If ever red
tape was used, the old fossilized
Buadestag was estitled to great
rebate on this commodity. Its proceed
ings were the laughing stock not only
of Germany, but of all the world. No
wonder the German name was ridiculed,
and foreign diplomat, when asked
what Germany was, could say: Ger
many? why Germany is geographical
idea." AS to territory, the German
bund consisted Of about three parts
Austria, five parts Prussia and four
parts smaller states. Not all of
Austria belonged to the bund; her
Slavonic, Italian and Polish possessions
were not included in it, just as two
Prussian provinces, Prussia and PoseD
did not belong to the confederation.
If we look at the map of Germany
we see that she is exposed on all sides
to attacks from foreign foes, and that
is the reason for her great standing
army. She does not maintain it fol
the purpose of attacking other nations
but to hold and protect what she has
Let me add here something irrelevant
to the subject in hand, but pertinent
The United States boast that they, tho
great nation, need not great stand
ing army. Well, but what would yor
do if you were transplanted over nigh
among the big nations of Europe? d.
you think your army would be suffi
cient? All of you have read about th'
1 peace congress at the Hague, but wha
> would that security be worth: Just a.
4 we'll for mouse to try to hang a bel
S round the cats neck Any att ok thel
: from foe, if the Integrity of German.
I should be maintained, had to be bOrn'
: by Prus> ia or Austria, for how coult
e any of the smaller states withstand an.
! attack of strong foreign foe? Ever.
u state was obliged to contribute
T certain number of soldiers for tn
y common defence, to the "Batnde
y Armee, army of the confederation
The commander in chief would b
Z appointed by the Batndestag, whic
q knew as much about military affairs a
It an elephant knows about rope dancing
Each contingent had its own weapons
" regulations, discipline, etc. All effort
q of Prussia to bring uniformity int
e. this chaos were stubbornly resisted
d Austria watching Prussia with jealou
h eyes. When in 1859 Prussia intervene
q in Hesse Cassel in behalf of the popu
o lation against their eector, she cam
n in conflict with Austria, and war wa
l. only averted by Prussia giving il
x This was done by the treaty of Olmuet'
)" which up to this day is considered
y deep disgrace to Prussia. But happil