Year: 1878

Government Friction In Germany.


There are certain signs that the higher
machinery of the German Empire is not
working with that smoothness without
which its force may be greatly weakened.
It is not so much the question of radicalism
or ultramontanism as that of sectionalism
which is producing the most unpleasant re-
suits. When Prussia, in 1866, asserted her
tremendous superiority among the German
pire Sadowa sealed the fate Of the small
Powers Of Germany. Prussia was giant
who might punish at will Bavaria, Saxony
or Wtirtemberg. or all together, as it pun
ished Austria and swallowed Hanover
There might be, it then seemed, no special
handed master, but there was no safety in
any other course. Napoleon's misreading Of
this great result of the Austro-P Prussian war
led in great part to his blunder in declaring
war in 1870 He knew that the smaller
States of the German Confederation did not
love Prussia. but he did not apparently
know how much they feared her. We shall
not deny that tho doctrine of Teutonism
had much to do with enlisting popular fer
vor oil over Germany on the side of Prussia
then, as Panslavism helped Russia in the
late war; but the Bavarian, Saxon and
after the war would be likely to treat them
as she had the government of the old, blind
King George four years before if they held
aloof. So long as the first glitter of the
great triumph remained which made Ger
many the commanding Power she is it was
not difficult to keep down all symptoms Of
discomfort of whatever kind. Now however,
when the more prosaic work Of the govern
ment comes to be done, when notifications
of the iron Chancellor's crude imperial ma
chine have become necessary, the sectional
interests begin to show their heads. Italways
results from one man in government
being SO imm ensely superior in ability TO
those who work with him that the time for
filling his place brings with it host of in
trigues and jealousies which often result in
disaster. The death Of Alexander shattered
the chain that held his conquests together.
OuuTleIDbSuc ulu uOt survive MIN.
If Napoleon Bonaparte had not been humil-
lated in his lifetime his death would have
been the signal for oil he had bound up to
be loosed. Prince Bismarck is growing old,
and he does not wish to leave the German
Empire to the chance of circum-
stances. We may admit that his de-
sire for Vice Chancellor and On
Imperial Cabinet shows that he is
no longer physically able to do everything
he used to do, and that, even if what he asks
of the German Parliament were granted, he
would expect his high styled assistants to be
little better than head clerks, but it shows
further his deep seated anxiety to preserve
intact the monumental labor of his extraor-
dinary career Bavaria and Wiirtem berg
raise their voices against the project because
it tends to weaken the autonomy of the
several States Bismarck, however, is right.
An iron empire cannot be hooped together
with any weaker material Until the whole
system is changed Germans OF the kingdoms
as well as Germans of the duchies must SUBJ
nit to still further curtailment of local
privileges If they would continue to be
strong. The condition of Austria should be
warning enough for them. A State to be of
account in Europe to-day must be zone and
indiyisible."