Year: 1872

the nobility. The temper Of each is at it's maxi


mum height. The Peers have become enraged


at the threats which have been hurled at them,
and the Emperor and Bismarck are enraged at
meeting with opposition from those upon whom
they had depended for assistance in
carrying out 1.-THE projects having
reference to the Capitalization Of power in the


new Empire. The Peers have opposed the bill
because it was direct blow at their interests,
and stripped them Of the influence and power


which they have hitherto welded, by overthrow
ing provincial independence, and taking away
from the provinces the aristocraho Leadership in
their governments, which has hitherto been in
the hands Of the Peers. On the other hand, the
Government favored it, because it vas neces-
sary to the strength and success Of the Empire
that the provinces should be stripped Of their
Independence, and brought more completely


under the rule Of the Empire. Uni
Versa1 military service is the foundation upon


which the German Empire rests, and the re-


suits Of it's rigorous enforcement are already


visible in the rapid increase Of emigration from


the German towns and cities. But it cannot be


made absolute until all the provinces are


brought under the immediate rule Of the En-


pire, and until the people Of those provinces


feel that they have direct interest in the pre-


servation Of the EMPIRE feeling which they


could not have if they possessed an independ-


ent form Of government to which they


we're first responsible. The bill was


shrewdly drawn. While really consolidating


and strengthening the EMPIRE it threw sop to


the people, as it ostensibly secured them mora


rights, more direct interest in their provincial


and municipal governments, and involved BIT
ter conflict with the nobility, although this was
set. The conflict: however, is none the less vel
come to the people, and it is not impossible that
it may enure to the advantage of popular liberty,
as such conflicts have done BEFORE


What Will be the outcome OF this conflict it ia
difficult to foresee. The Government demands
that the bill shall be passed, and the Peers re-
fuse to pass it. All other legislation, however
necessary, has been placed in abeyance to this


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out, although if the Peers maintain their pres
ent position without yielding, there would seem
to be no resource left except to cut the knot by
abolishing the Chamber, and creating new one
which shall be mora in accordance with the sen
timent Of the Government. That this may yet
be the solution Of the t1ffculty is rendered pos
aible by the fact that the Government
organs are urging this course. Mean
while, it is rather significant that
while the Franco-Germau war has given France
q Republican form Of government, it has given
Germany an Empire; and while II, Theirs ia
struggling to make the Republic perpetual by
conservative measures, Bismarck is struggling
to make the Empire perpetual by alliance with
the Radicals; and that, while II. Theirs is devils
ing means to enlarge the popular liberties, Bis
marck is striving to curtail them by the estab-
Gshment Of an Empire based upon compulsory
military service, and an abolition Of what we
should call in this country States Rights.