Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-03-07
GERMAN UNITY
By Frederic. ]. Haskin.


sides the keen interest in the points at
issue regarding the proper relationship
between the military and civil authori-
ties there was much tense speculation
concerning the probable after effects OF
the incident The excitement with which
the German papers had commented upon
the trouble between the Prussian SOL
diery and the people of Zabern magni-
fled the affair in the eyes of the world
into an oninous sign Of general discon-
tent
Since the formation of the empire in
1871 two questions have been asked by
writer's of other nations often enough
to have become conventional. These are:
s-Can Prussia hold the empire together"
and when and upon whom Will the new
nations wonderful military machine be
Used?' The Germans themselves raise
these questions with tragic seriousness in
the heat of each fresh political combat,
though now with decreasing vehemence
as the lines of division are coming more
strongly to be between feudal and class
privilege and democracy of industrial
workers and business men. These ques-
tons were raised again in comments upon
the Zabern case. As an exemplary an
swer, it must be admitted that the empire
has scrupulously kept the peace and has
steadily knitted the bonds between her
federated states ever more intimately
and firmly.
-
Spain, Great Britain, France, Russia
and the United States were unified much
earl Ter
Nations UNIFIED than Ger
Earlier Than Germany. w " = , IN :,
fact, the process of founding great en-
pire is still proceeding-how successfully
nyrx III S,,I~ -, 40
tone of leading articles in the powerful
native dailies.
The German empire is confederation
of twenty-six states and political units.
1t is composed of the kingdoms Of Prus-
eia, Saxony. Bavaria and wurttemberg.
the grand duchies Baden, Hesse. Neck
burg-Strelitz and Oldenburg, the duchies
Brunswick. saxe-Meiningen. saxe-Alten-
burg. Saxe-Coburg- Gotha and Anhalt, the
principalities OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES haus-
en-. Schwartzburg- Rudolstadt, Waldeck.
Reuss-Greis. Reuss-Schleiz, Schaumburg-
Lippe and Lippe. the free towns Of Lue-
perial territory of Alsace-Lorraine
theme Of German poets and writer's
and an Ideal which animated the students
of the German universities from the
downfall Of Napoleon to the time Of real
ization in 1S11-the empire. united Ger
many-was the greatest fruit of the
Franco-Prussian war. the eliminating
masterpiece Of Bismarck's foreign policy.
AS result of the war the south German
states Joined with the north German con-
federation, of which Prussia was the
dominating power. to form the empire
IN 1870. and January u.s. 1871, the King of
Prussia was proclaimed German emperor
at Versailles. The office OF German en-
peror was made hereditary in the reign
Ing house of Prussia, that of Hohen-
kollern.
Legislative functions OF the empire
are vested In the emperor. the bundesrat,
or federal council, and the reichstag, or
imperial diet The federal council repre-
sents the governments Of the various
states OF Germany, by which its members
are appointed for each session.
The imperial diet represents the people
and its members are elected for five-year
terms by uni
Imperial Diet versal suffrage.
Represents People. owe swh !, i haS
representation in both the federal coun-
Gil and in the diet.
Supreme control Of military affairs and
the navy. Of imperial finances. Of pat
ents. copyrights. tariffs, posts and tele-
graphs immigration and emigration. and
in matters relating to banking, navisa-
ton. civil and criminal legislation. judi
cial procedure and foreign affairs are
vested in the imperial government The
chancellor Of the empire, appointed by
the emperor. conducts all the affairs OF
the government, represents the emperor
before the bundesrat and the reichstag.
and is the sole responsible official. All de-
partments Of the government are under
his Immediate authority. The German
states have separate legislative as
semblies, including Alsace-Lorraine, and
administer their internal affairs.
Prussia exerts an overrultng predomi-
nance In the affairs Of the empire. She
has had much to overcome OF suspicion
and jealousy In the federated states.
The German trait Of independent inves-
tigation and tenacious hold upon opin-
ions formed in such investigation has in
creased the difficulty of welding the en-
pire. A primary demand Of the German
has been always to work out and give
voice to his own ideas. for which right
he has ever been willing to fight, go hun
cial place. On the other hand. however.
he troubles far less about freedom OF
action
German nature is a most fertile ground
for schism from whatever creeds. philosos
pties or tenets. There are thirteen par
ties more or less represented in the i'm
perial diet and probably twice as many
kinds of politics. When half dozen
Germans meet there are six brands OF
politics in bitter conflict
4. x
Anaigamadon OF these various party
viewpoints and Of the interests Of the
sever al dis
Union Of Interests trustful states
One Of the Problems. able govern
,nent majority has been one Of the pi oo-
lems which the imperial government has
had always before IT. Exaggerated inter-
probation Of the sparks struck out in the
clash Of factions in the adjustment OF
government control Is one Of the grounds
for a recurring fear for the stability of
the empire.
Another phase Of internal fermentation
in the empire. which has received much
sensational Interpretation. is that Of the
rapid development Of the social demo.
cratic party. Examined according to the
acts and teachings Of its leaders. this
party gives little evidence OF being the
revolutionary menace to Germany ina
many critics have considered 1t. The
fact Of the close dependence Of one class