The sun., 1908-12-06

votes that may result from them. IN
short the RelchStag's votes are purely
platonic, Il naturally follows that It
exercises no direct action on the conduct
OF the Government, the fate OF Ministers
or the administration of affairs.
In the ultimate matter OF the ilAperial
budget 1t cannot effectively stop supplies
for its vote. according to Article Xxx OF
the Constitution Is equivalent not to an
authorization of expenditure but TO Q
recognition OF the necessity and accuracy
Of the accounts. 1t is an administrative
act passed in form of law f,
While all these barren negatives have
enclosed the legislative authority of the
Reichstag public opinion has grown up
vigorously outside. A member of the
Reichstag has no voice in the making OF
Ministers or in procuring local appoint
ments. but to avoid chronic public dispu-
tation between the legislature and the
executive the practice Of lobby bargain
ing has grownup.
Groups have been got even to vote
measures that their members had opposed
on condition that the Government would
let them have their way in matters on
which they were separately interested.
The Conservative Liberal bloc that sup
ported Prince BIlow> from the last cleo
ton until this crisis was welded together
in Bismarckian fashion. Public opinion
has never been proud Of these lobby
bargainings. and members who wish to
break with the custom ascribe the fu-
tility of their efforts to the essentially
subordinate role of the Reiohstag in the
Constitution. 1t is another ground for
the extension of its rights.
+There is only one master in this
country; I will not suffer another by my
side" So spoke Emperor William at
Dusseldorf when he had been five years
on the throne Yet he himself. aided by the
excesses Of his. favorites. by his speeches
and by the Inconsistency OF his policy. has
created another master that is,
German public opinion.
1t asks for guarantees against him and
raises the gravest constitutional qucs-
ton that the country has known since
the empire was founded The Chan
cellor is to remain responsible; but before
whom? If he is to be responsible to the
Emperor the personal policy will con-
tinue. II the Emperor's Ministers are
to be primarily responsible to the Reichs-
tag where is his passionate attachment
to himself as divine ruler2
Yet there are circumstances in the
which render Emperor Will
iam's position very strong. Nothing
can be done without him except by
revolution. which is an utterly i'm
probable contingency By choosing that
way Germany might find ruin and she
knows it The present Reiohstag is not
of the temper to seek Q revolution. 1t
wants simply a constitution. what the
German Empire has been looking for
ever since it saw the light Heinrich
Heine said that the soul Of Germany is
wandering in search Of body. Her
present history explains his saying.
In one vital aspect the problem has not
yet been solved peaceably by any nation.
In the American. English and French
revolutions the preexistihg systems were
uprooted and cast out bodily to make
space for the establishment Of free in
stitutions in which fitting place was
given to the Chief of State by the nation.
In Germany, whose form OF constitu-
ton was not the sequel to the overthrow
Of the previous system of government,
the makebelieve has been attempted of
conferring power on newly created
body without Diminishing the absolute.
hereditary authority Of the sovereign In
Russia the attempt has been an utter
failure: in Germany. despite excellent
education, good civic order and gen.
orally intelligent administration. it will
be miracle il government by an elected
legislature can be made a success under
the sway of the present Emperor.