Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-10-22

of initiative has probably been due to con-
siderations of self-preservation. Although
the little states of Germany have been
badly governed for centuries, there Is no
doubt that the existence of so many courts
brings the monarchical idea home to many
Germans to whom it might otherwise be
foreign. The little German courts are bull
warks of political conservatism and serve
to defend monarchical institutions against
the growing forces Of social democracy. If
the kaiser were to sweep them all away
he would create a precedent which the So
cal democrats might at some future time
utilize to abolish the Prussian and German
monarchy
If, however, the smaller states can be
gradually absorbed by Prussia without open
blows at monarchical Institutions there is no
doubt that the kaiser will welcome the
change. He is frequently impatient of the
necessity of sharing his supreme authority
with the superfluous little sovereigns who
occupy the thrones of the smaller states of
the empire On various occasions the kali
ser has made them feel that they are his
vassals, and has treated them as sub
ordinates, a procedure which some of them
have keenly resented.
At present Germany is not an absolute
empire, but a confederation of some score
of sovereign states who have combined on
the basis of a common nationality to pre-
sent a united front to foreign countries.
The German emperor, unlike the emperorS
of Russia and Austria, is nothing more
than the hereditary president of the con-
federation of German states. The German
emperor. as such, is strictly constitu-
tional monarch, and it is as King of Prus-
STA that he enjoys such extensive personal
power over his subjects.
The present kaiser has contrived to make
us forget most of these facts. He is him
self SO prominent a figure in the affairs of
his country that the world has almost for
gotten the existence of all the remaining
1rnhC ttrhn orc nal 1xy
quite equal to the emperor in rank and
dignity.
Apart from the kaiser there are twenty
independent monarchs in Germany. Three
kings, six grand dukes, four dukes and
seven regning princes. Some of these states
are so small that the maintenance of their
sovereign rights is absurdity in the
twentieth century. Their existence dates
from the time when central Europe was
dotted with large numbers of small feudal
states, each ruled by its own petty mon
arch.
The smallest German state is in the prin-
cipality of Schaumburg Lippe, which con-
tains total population of 10000 The cap
ital of this miniature country is an over
grown village called Buckeberg, with pop
ulation of 5000 The crown of Schaum-
burg-Lippe is worn by prince. and the
government is carried on by a prime minis
ter aided by council of state and an elect
ed representative assembly.
The principally of Reuss (elder line) Is
only a trife more important, with a popu-
lation of 10000 This principanty also has
its own prime minister, its own council of
state and it's own representative assembly,
which legislates for the benefit of the peop,e
of Reuss.
Waldeck is about the same size, with a
population of 60 600 but its capital is quite
an insignificant village called Arolsen with
a population of barely 5000. This village is
the residence of the regning prince and the
seat of government headed by a prime min
lister and controlled by an elected diet.
Schwarzburg- Sondershausen has a total
population of $1,000. and its village capital,
Sondershausen, has population of 7,0S0.
Schwarzburg- Rudolstadt has total popu-
lation of 90,G09. and its capital, Rudolstadt,
has a population of 1900. The Grand
Duchy of Mecklenburg- Strelitz has total
population of 100000, and its capital, Neu
Strelitz, has a population of II, GOO. The.
principality of Lippe contains a population
of 10000, and its capital, Detnold, has
population of 11,c00. The principality of
Reuss younger line) has a population or
10000. The duchies of Saxe-Altenburg,
Saxe-Ccburg-Gotha, and Sake Meningen
each have populations varying between
20O,G00 and 100000. and the duchy of An
halt has population of a little more than
800. 000. The grand duchies of Saxe-Weimar
and o,ldenburg each have an approximate
population of 100000 and the grand duchy