Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1917-07-27
German Empire-Prussia

In this time of the great world war, when the eyes
of all turned towards Berlin, and anxously watch
ing official action, brief glance the of
government and how it is ruled will be of interest to
many possibly, to of those of the Fatherand
now American citizens.
The present German Empire is a federal State,
what like Union with this very important difference
it is made up of monarchies-25 states These include
four Kingdoms prussia Bavaria, Saxony, Wurtemberg)
Is duches, grand duchies principaltes and three
republican in character the cities of Bremen Hamburg
and Lubbock The King of Prussia is the hereditary
peror-a sort of president He cannot be impeached.
He has extensive power of patronage, and almost
solute control over foreign relations
The sovereignty of the empire vested the
Bundesrah of Sc delegates appointed by the soveregns
Prussia has II. 1t is not upper house. It's powers
are executive rather than legislative. prepares
of the for the Reiehstag and has veto upon
all laws passed by that body From this will be noticed
that the monarchies control all legislation
The National Legislature is the Reichstag-one
house of 397 delegates of which Prussia has 236. The
Rechstag is practically limited to accepting refusing
Bundesrath The members elected for five
years by man-sufrage.
The imperial ministry is appointed by the emperor
Amendments to the constitution made as other
laws. Fourteen votes in the Bundesrath defeat
them. Prussia alone kill an amendment.
Prussia has population of three-ffths of the
pre. Her king is The constitution maintains
the doctrine of divine right and royal authority insists
it is only limited by its consent. The legislature
consists of house of lords representa-
tiVes All males have vote in the election of the lower
house. but they vote in three orders in such way
give two-hirds of the representation the weathest
one-sixth of the voters In Berlin mans vote
counts for that of so poor The authority the
legislature is very limited. The king may adjourn
dissolve it, and he has absolute Veto Prussia and
England both constitutional monarchies but while
England is almost quite democracy, Prussia al
most as autocratic as Russia under the Gar.
Says the recent historian (1915) from which these
statements are taken:
1.-The German government is honest and frugal and
it is paternal in the extreme Justice between
man is easy to obtain; andranser cheap;
Grafton is carefully guarded against; the public health
is zeaously protected alongside this kindly and
watchful paternalism there grevious faults.
many has been made by violence, and the result still
shows in the spirit of militarism predomn-
ance of the drill sergeant and the policeman
state with high civilization infected with these
evils. poicemans evidence court equal to that
of five Independent witnesses and his rule all prevail
ing Even worse is the contemptuous and oftentmes
brutal treatment of civilians by army officers"
Wilhelm declared his belief in the divine right of
kings and the present Emperor is firm in that claim
as every monarch before Says the historan by
jury freedom of the press, freedom public meetings.
and free speech exist only in a limited degree"
The army system is based the universal obliga-
on of every man to serve At 20 each enters the
ranks for two active SERVICE five years more he
IN the active with two months year
in camp for IL years he forms part of the
ritoral reserve andwehr) This takes the soldier
his 39th year.
Germany has increased rapidly in population, COM
merce, manufactures and foreign trade In 1915 the
present empire had population rs millions it is now
almost % millions That the present war; matter
decided will cripple the empire we'll other Euro
pean participants, for generations, there is doubt
While there is strong demand in the German empire
for more liberal form of govermnet it not likely
that the people look republic The % monarchies
would present an obstacle and would almost
1nsurmountable hostile influence Again, there is no
denying the fact that the Kaiser has strong hold in
the minds of the However the demand for gov
ernmental reforms is growing, and will be
ceded.-St Cloud Times