362 



GERMANY. 



The Reichstag was closed by the Emperor 

 on April 26th. The speech from the throne 

 passed in review the laws voted during the 

 past important session, and, mentioning first 

 the Army Bill, described it as a measure 

 guaranteeing the protection of the Fatherland 

 and the peace of Europe. The Federal Gov- 

 ernment accepted the compromise proposed 

 on the question in order to assure a steady 

 development of the Constitution and obtain a 

 basis for a general understanding in the inter- 

 est of the newly-acquired national institutions. 

 The Federal Government trusted that in this 

 respect the country and future Parliaments 

 would feel convinced that it was necessary to 

 secure a durable, even maintenance of the na- 

 tional defensive strength, and establish a legal 

 basis for the annual debate on the budget in 

 order to give the requisite firmness to the con- 

 stitution of the army. The Emperor thanked 

 the House for the improvements introduced in 

 the law affecting military invalids. He then ad- 

 verted to the understanding arrived at respect- 

 ing the bill for the issue of Imperial Treasury 

 notes, a measure calculated to satisfy the com- 

 mercial community. His Majesty considered 

 the late votes of the Reichstag in furtherance 

 and support of his policy as confirming his 

 conviction that the Fatherland has a prosper- 

 ous future before it, and that Europe will find 

 a pledge of peace and assurance for the de- 

 velopment of culture in the care bestowed upon 

 the mental, moral, and material strength of 

 Germany. 



The fall session of the German Parliament 

 was opened on October 29th by the Emperor 

 William in person. In his speech from the 

 throne his Majesty said that the legislative la- 

 bors which awaited the members were no less 

 important than in former sessions. Bills in- 

 tended to secure unity of judicial procedure 

 would be laid before them. Bills for complet- 

 ing the imperial military system would also be 

 submitted. One of these referred to the Land- 

 sturm, and another regulated the proportion to 

 be paid by each state for the maintenance of 

 the army in time of peace. Measures respect- 

 ing the currency would also be brought for- 

 ward. For the first time the House would be 

 called upon to cooperate in establishing a bud- 

 get for Alsace and Lorraine. Owing to the 

 resolution passed last session, bills had been 

 drawn up by the Federal Council rendering 

 civil marriage obligatory throughout the em- 

 pire. The treaty signed at Berne, establishing 

 a postal union, would be of great advantage. 

 In conclusion, his Majesty spoke of the friendly 

 relations of the empire with foreign powers, 

 and said that the pacific intentions of his Gov- 

 ernment enabled it to disregard all unjust sus- 

 picions against its policy. The speech was 

 received with much applause, and at its 

 close Prince Bismarck declared the Parliament 

 opened. President Forckenbeck was reelected 

 by the vote of all parties; Dr. Hanel was re- 

 elected second Vice-President ; and, instead of 



Prince Hohenlohe, who had been appointed 

 German embassador in Paris, Baron von Stauf- 

 fenberg was elected first Vice-President. Presi- 

 dent Forckenbeck soon after resigned because 

 one of his parliamentary decisions had been 

 overruled, but, having been reelected by a 

 unanimous vote, consented to remain in office. 

 In the debate on the budget of Alsace-Lor- 

 raine, the deputies from Alsace-Lorraine raised 

 objections and opposed too high an endowment 

 of the Strasburg University and payments for 

 educational purposes which were made in the 

 interest of the empire, but not of the provinces 

 themselves. Prince Bismarck, hi reply, made 

 a speech, in which he said : 



The question before us concerns the interests of 

 the empire ; it is not a question of Alsace-Lorraine. 

 The University is to serve imperial purposes. In 

 the well-fought war in which we had to defend our 

 existence we conquered the provinces tor the em- 

 pire. It was not for Alsace-Lorraine that our soldiers 

 shed their blood. We take our stand upon the in- 

 terests of the empire and imperial policy. Alsace- 

 Lorraine was indeed annexed on similar grounds, 

 and not for the sake of Alsace-Lorraine's eccle- 

 siastical interests. We have in the empire other 

 grounds of action than those gentlemen whose past 

 leads them to Paris, and whose present conducts 

 them to Eome. We have to think of the empire, 

 and for that purpose we have summoned representa- 

 tives from the annexed provinces to Berlin. My 

 views respecting an Alsace-Lorraine Parliament, 

 which were at first too sanguine, are still entertained 

 by me in principle, but have, nevertheless, been 

 modified since I have become acquainted with the 

 attitude of the Alsace-Lorraine deputies present 

 here. Such a Parliament would lead to continual 

 agitation, and perhaps endanger the maintenance 

 of peace. It would be difficult to set aside such 

 an institution if created by legislative means, and 

 therefore that method of creating it could not be 

 adopted. In school matters we have energetically 

 interfered, but we shall no doubt have to take still 

 more vigorous steps. We could not permit ele- 

 ments to exist in the schools which labor, I will 

 not exactly say to make the children stupid, but 

 yet which take care that people do not become too 

 wise. My action in regard to Alsace-Lorraine will 

 always be guided by the interests of the empire 

 and its safety, and I shall not be frightened from 

 my course by reproaches, threats, intimidation, or 

 persuasion ; but before I can decisively advance 

 further on my course, I must be convinced that 

 there are elements which can be trusted. We may 

 expect better discernment from the rising genera- 

 tion, and we must therefore see that good schools are 

 provided. 



The discussion on the imperial budget fur- 

 nished an opportunity to the Catholic deputies, 

 Jorg and Windthorst, to attack the foreign 

 policy of Bismarck, who replied by a severe 

 censure of the Catholic party. The Reichstag 

 approved of the proposition of the Federal 

 Council, not to make any appropriation for an 

 embassador near the Pope. Prince Bismarck, 

 commenting upon the resolution to cancel the 

 post of envoy to the Vatican, said : 



The Pope being a purely religious chief, there was 

 no occasion to keep a permanent political representa- 

 tive at his court. Things, indeed, might have been 

 left in statu quo had not the present Pope, a true 

 member of the Church militant, thought fit to re- 

 vive the ancient struggle of the Papacy and tern- 



