Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1905-12-15
FOR A GIGANTIC TRUST
Kaiser Wilhelm Aims to Alb
serb 20 Toy Sovereigns
POCKET KINGDOMS DEAR

1 OShLt hNNNIDS/Nio Liam
Each of These German States Has
Population Less Than New York
-Monarchs Alone Cost Millions
Annually-Thc Emperor the Act
ual Boss Of Entire Army.
At present Germany Is not an alb
solute empire, but 4 confederation OF
some score Of sovereign states. who
have combined on the basis OF COM
mon nationality to present a united
front to foreign countries. The Ger
man emperor, unlike the emperors OF
Russia and Austria. is nothing more
than the hereditary president OF the
confederation Of German states. The
German emperor as such is strictly
constitutional monarch, and II Is as
king Of Prussia that he enjoys such
extensive power over his subjects.
The present king has contrived to
make us forget most OF these facts.
He is himself so prominent a figure
in the affairs OF his country that the
world has almost forgotten the exist
ence of all the remaining German
monarchs who are, theoretically.
quite equal to the emperor In rank
and dignity.
Apart from the kaiser there are 20
Independent monarchs in Germany
three kings, six grand dukes, four
dukes and seven reigning princes.
Some of these states are 30 small
that the maintenance of their sover-
eign rights IL an absurdity in the
twentieth century. Their existence
dates from the times when Central
Europe was dotted with large num-
bers Of small feudal states. each
ruled by its own petty monarch.
Each of these sovereign German
states has a population less than that
of New York and Chicago. The king
dom Of Wurttemberg has a popula-
ton of little more than 100000
the kingdom of Saxony a little moro
than 4.000, 900, and the kingdom of
Bavaria a little more than 5000. 900,
and all these states are overshad-
owed by Prussia with Its population
of 35.000,000. Apart from the I'M
perial chancellor. Prince Bulow, and
the central federal government, Ger
many possesses 90 prime ministers.
20 cabinets, 90 royal courts and 18
parliaments, for two German states.
Mecklenburg-Schwe and Mecklen-
burg-Strelitz. are absolute mon
arches governed by their grand
dukes without any assistance from
elected representatives Of the people.
The cost of maintaining all these
monarchies with their courts and
households is a heavy financial bur-
den for the German nation. The king
of Bavaria receives an income OF
s1,500,000. the king Of Saxony an
income of 100000 and the king
of Wurttemberg an income OF $780,
900 per annum. The grand duke OF
Baden, the grand duke Of Hesse, the
grand duke Of Mecklenburg-Schwer-
in, the grand duke of Saxe-Weimar
and the duke of Anhalt each receive
incomes varying from $250,000 to
100000 a year. The duke OF Sake
Meiningen. the duke of Saxe-Coburg-
Gotha and the duke of SaxeAlten-
burg receive incomes varying from
$4,000 to 100000, and the re-
naming German monarchs receive
an average of 9125,000 per annum.
The 90 monarchs between them
own 115 royal palaces, which, to-
gether with the three dozen palaces
owned by the kaiser. as king Of Prus-
STA, makes total Of $50 palaces
dotted all over Germany. These pal
aces are surrounded by parks with
total area of $4,000 acres. all of
which is, of course, lying wasted, so
far as productive purposes are con-
cerned In the smaller German states
the cost Of maintaining the monarch
amounts to about 81 per head of the
population. or So per head of family.
a heavy burden on a population
which is by no means prosperous.
The 20 royal courts in Germany
are effective supports OF reactiona0
politics and personal snobbery. The
little German courts have been fruit
full of all sorts of queer situations
and scandals. The throne OF Bavaria
has been occupied fer the last 90
years by 4 rsvins mailman, who
crawls about on his hands and knees.
barks like a dog and eats his food on
the ground Nevertheless. this being,
although mere beast than man. = his
Majesty King Otto Of Bavaria BY d.
vine right. Hts predecessor. King
Louis, was also lu1atie and
drowned himself. The future king OF
Bavaria, Prince RupprsoAt. has been
involved in matrimonial scandals. and
his Quarrels with his wife have been
public report fer some years past.
A curious feature about all these
little German courts which cost 20
much and which produce - many
scandals calculated to disersAk nOn-
archical Institutions. y that tAsy 49,
purely ornamental. Although AL the
little monarchs theoretically possess
sovereign powers they are ~ mat
tar Of fact nothing more than vassals
Of the emperor. It II true that tbs
emperor can declare war. conclude
treaties. and promulgats laws In the