Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-08-22
Things YOu Want to Know

Deep seated political discomfort is re-
| sponstble for the premonitory rumblingz
| OF political revolution In Germany The
/ people are angry with their government.
and there is more political agitation in
Germany now than at any time since the
formation of the empire. As is usually the
case, this unrest was caused primarily by
the action of the government In adding 10
the burden OF taxation; and II has taken
the usual form OF an agitation for giving
the people greater power in the govern
| ment.
Involved in the complexities OF the Ger
man constitution, and obscured by the null
tiplicity OF political party organizations II
is difficult to describe the exact nature OF
the pending political battle However, the
chief aim OF all the progressive elements
| In imperial politics is to change the work.
ing constitution so that the government
will be responsible to the parliament
elected by the people. In Prussia, the
dominating state OF the federation, the
progressive parties demand a revision OF
the electoral system upon basis OF UNI
versal, or at least, of equal suffrage In
perial politics and Prussian' politics are so
completely intermingled that II is difficult
to separate the issue of ministerial re-
sponsibility from the problems Of Prussian
suffrage reform.
1t is theory Of the German constitu-
ton that the imperial government shall
not be government of party. 1t has been
held by the orthodox German statesmen
that It is subversive Of the best interests
Of the state and the nation to permit the
division OF the people into two rival camps
NJ rrytAh nnb
cordance with this theory the constitution,
although granting a Parliament elected by
universal suffrage did not make the mini
sters OF the government responsible to that
Parliament In all other considerable
European governments, whether constitu-
tional monarchies or republics. the affairs
of government are administered by a cab
met Of ministers directly responsible to
parliamentary authority; ministers selected
from and by the parliamentary majority.
The British government is the best ex-
ample of this system; and the British Par
lament combines In itself the highest leg
islative executive and judicial functions.
Under the British constitution the exls-
tence of two principal political parties
has been held to be necessary.
The trainers of the American constitution
sought to separate the three chief functions
OF government. and to that end entrusted
all administrative duties to the president
and his cabinet, wholly irresponsible to
congress. The United States government
was not to be a government by parties.
This was one of the most particular de-
sires of Washington, and he sought to
avoid the division of the people into two
political camps by inviting into his first
cabinet the two chief leaders of the two
opposing schools Of political thought But
the Americans were Englishmen in all but
allegiance to the crown, and the parties
of Hamilton and Jefferson would have been
formed II neither OF those men had been
in Washingtons cabinet; and after more
than century the same two parties, after
a more or less checkered career, continue
to exist.
But, on account of limitations Of the
constitution, the American government is
not a government Of parties. II 1t had been,
last winter when the Cannon organization
was voted down in the house Mr. Taft and
all OF his cabinet would have resigned
Immediately. OF course, the president paid
no attention to the defeat of the admin
istrative party in the house of representa-
tives, and If the elections in November
should discover the fact that the adverse
congressional majority has the support OF
majority of the electors. still the admin
istration will not resign. In this respect
the German institution Of an irresponsible
ministry. now the target for the bolts OF
every political agitator in the empire,
Is exactly a similar Institution TO that
of the American republic.
The difference between Germany and the
United States is not in the relation of the
legislative and executive functions, but in
the constitution OF the executive. In Ger
many the executive head of the government
is appointed by and responsible to the
emperor, who holds his office by virtue of
his foyal birth, and who is not at any
time or in any way responsible to the
public will, whether expressed directly in
a general election. as in the United States,
or indirectly, by a parliamentary vote. as
in Great Britain. The utter lack OF popu-
lar control over the executive is RESPONSE
BILE for the German agitation for parlia-
mentary domination in all affairs of the
government
Although the German imperial chancellor
is not bound TO resign when he is defeated
in the Reichstag. yet he cannot succeed in