Year: 1873

great fires for more than week. and was LA
bic at all times to interruption, if even run
away horse dashed itself against telegraph
pole.


REACTTONARY -GOVERNMENT IN PRUSSIA


There is now little doubt that the harmOni-
GUS action which has subsisted between the
two Governments of which the Emperor of
Germany is the chief is seriously endangered
The organization of the Prussian Ministry is
one for which it would be difficult
to find counterpart among constitu-
tonal governments The Emperor jeal-
ously asserts his right to appoint every
Minister of State, and whenever a vacancy
occurs he himself selects a man to fill the
position. Important questions of public policy
are decided in the Council of Ministers by a
majority but each minister is supreme in
affairs which affect his own department alone.
A homogeneous cabinet is, of course, impos-
sible The Minister President, although hav-
ing a nominal superiority, has no further
authority than that which may attach to him
as the chief adviser of his sovereign.


Ever since the accession of Prince Bismarck
it was his desire to be in reality what he was
merely in name-the president of a respon-
slble ministry in Prussia. In the draft of a
constitution for North Germany, which was
entirely his work, he sought to secure for
himself position which would render him
independent of his colleagues, and created the
anomalous Office of Chancellor. In defending
his work in the Federal Diet he once said,
with characteristic frankness:


He who has stood at the head OF ministry
srnks from the necessity of convincing seven persons
that what he desires is the appropriate. All have
their oonviotons every is surrounded by band of
contentious councillors every of whom also has his
convictions Minister President, if he has time. must
endeavor to convince the individual councillor who has
the ear of his chief; and l. too, would not avoid
this. j regard collegiate ministry in itself as
a constitutional error, from which every State should
endeavor free itself with the greatest expedition
am firmly convinced that can substantiate my judg
ment from my experience. Instead Of Offering to
extend this defective system to the confederation, am
more disposed to believe that Prussia would make im
mense progress if she should accept the federal plan of
having but responsible Minister


There is good reason to believe that the
ministerial crisis in Prussia is due to the de-
termination of Prince Bismarck to bring about
change in accordance with his own ideas,
but temporarily at least. the Government of
Prussia has been delivered to the reactionary
party When the Chancellor recommended
the complete reorganization of the Her
renhaus as result of its perverseness
in refusing to pass the Reform bill, the
Emperor was satisfied to induce some
ultra Conservative members to abstain from
voting when the bill was again proposed and
appointed q small body of Conservative peers
to make a bare majority. The character of
the House remained the same, and the same
obstnacy may be displayed as soon as another
measure OF reform is proposed. Under a re-
dictionary Government it would be a formid-
able instrument in obstructing benefcent
legislation.


Several months ago we perceived indications
of the increase in favor with the Emperor of
the party which was most hostile to the Chan
collor. During the long retirement of the lat
ter on his estate at Varzin, more than ordinary
goodwill was shown to the military party,
which was clamOrous for elevation at his ex-
pense. When the meeting of Emperors was
arranged to take place at Berlin it was an
nounced on trustworthy authority that he
would remain at Yarzin. When however, he
had determined to be present, the consumma-
ton of his purpose took place so late that he
did not reach Berlin until the last moment
before the festivities began, and after the
arrival of some Of the most distinguished
of the foreign guests. The spectacle was
almost entirely military one, the greatest
marks of esteem were shown to military Off
GERS, and the Emperor of Austria seemed to
interpret the prevailing feeling in such way
AS to Justify him in extending greater honor
TO Prince Bismarck's personal enemy. No
sooner had the festivities terminated than the
Chancellor again withdrew to his estates, from
which he has now returned to turn over the
principal Office in Prussia to the chief of his
own enemies and Of the enemies of progress
in the kingdom.


The selection of Count Won Room to be Min
ister-P President and his promotion at this late
day to the rank of Field Marshal, are sufficient
indications of the favor which reactionary coun-
sells will find with the Emperor. Count Won
Room from his thirteenth year has been edu-
Gated in the most Conservative military circles.
More than any other Prussan officer he is
satisfied that the military class is and should
be the most prominent in the Kingdom; that
in honor and the necessity OF providing for its
requirements, it should have precedence, and
that it alone should have the privilege of pre-
scribing the measures necessary TO main
tain this precedence or to carry out its
policy. AS military officer he is
among the first in the army; but
his rigid conservatism and his passionate
tamnerament entirelv dsnualifv him from, .,,