350 



GERMANY. 



those annexed by the German nation and 

 Government. Other Alsace Deputies accepted 

 the bill as an installment of constitutional in- 

 stitutions, while one was grateful for Alsace- 

 Lorraine being accorded the means of counter- 

 acting and correcting the mistakes committed 

 by its new German bureaucracy. This bill was 

 eventually adopted by the Reichstag, and was 

 proclaimed by the Emperor on the occasion of 

 his presence in Strasburg on May 2d. 



On March 19th, the Reichstag commenced 

 the discussion of the bill for establishing the 

 Supreme Tribunal of Germany at Leipsic. The 

 Prussian Minister of Justice desired Berlin as 

 the seat of the tribunal ; but, on May 24th, the 

 Reichstag decided, by a large majority, in 

 favor of Leipsic, and on March 24th adjourned 

 for the Easter holidays. 



CASTLE OF HOUENZOLLERN. 



A difference arose, in March, between Prince 

 Bismarck and General von Stosch, the Chief 

 of the Admiralty, which was interesting on 

 account of the constitutional questions in- 

 volved. In the Prussian cabinet, the premier- 

 ship is a mere honorary title ; individual min- 

 isters being free to act as they please, unless 

 restrained and directed by cabinet votes. 

 When the German Government was organized, 

 Prince Bismarck declared his inability to allow 

 the German Secretaries and Under-Secretaries 

 of State the like privilege; and it was to en- 

 force this determination that he publicly ex- 

 pressed his surprise at the Chief of the Admi- 

 ralty reducing the estimates in compliance with 

 a demand of the House, when he refused to 

 oblige his premier. As Prince Bismarck de- 

 clined to withdraw this statement, General 

 Stosch tendered his resignation. Both parties 

 were then requested to drawUjTreports to the 

 Emperor, after which it was generally assumed 

 that the general's resignation had been accept- 

 ed. But a few days later the Emperor addressed 



an autograph letter to him, in which he declared 

 that, after carefully perusing the statements 

 of the two opposing parties, he had arrived at 

 the conclusion that Prince Bismarck did not 

 intend to attack the general when making the 

 unpalatable remark. Prince Bismarck, the 

 Emperor further said, when he alluded to the 

 general allowing a portion of the naval sur- 

 plus to be utilized for current expenses, only 

 wished to inform the House that the general 

 had taken the step without his consent, and 

 that he (Bismarck) would not have consented 

 to it, and, indeed, would not recognize it as a 

 precedent to be observed in future transac- 

 tions of the kind. If Prince Bismarck thought 

 it necessary, with a view to future contingent 

 cies, to acquaint the House with his notions 

 about surpluses and their application in the 

 new budget, this was 

 a mere precautionary 

 measure, and no of- 

 fense to the Chief of 

 the Naval Depart- 

 ment. In his letter 

 the Emperor evident- 

 ly recapitulated argu- 

 ments contained in 

 Prince Bismarck's 

 statement, and the 

 general determined 

 to remain in office. 

 On April 1st, Prince 

 Bismarck tendered his 

 resignation, and asked 

 for permission to re- 

 tire immediately. The 

 reasons for this step 

 are not positively 

 known. It was be- 

 lieved by many that 

 his withdrawal had 

 been indirectly occa- 

 sioned by his unwill- 

 ingness to endure a degree of official fric- 

 tion greater than his health could support. 

 Besides the Stosch affair, there had also been 

 several cases of a clash of authority between 

 the Imperial Government and the different 

 states, which had left behind an unpleasant 

 feeling. The Emperor refused to accept the 

 resignation; and, after considerable negotia- 

 tions, Prince Bismarck contented himself with 

 a furlough until August. Herr Hofmann, 

 President of the Imperial Chancery, took his 

 place in the department of Home Affairs ; 

 Herr von Billow, in the department of Foreign 

 Affairs ; while Herr Camphausen represented 

 him in the Prussian cabinet. 



The Reichstag reassembled on April 10th. 

 On April 23d, the items of the war estimate, 

 which had been referred to the Budget Com- 

 mittee, came up for discussion in Parliament. 

 The increased grant for 105 new captaincies 

 gave rise to a protracted debate, and to a re- 

 markable speech of General von Moltke, who 

 insisted on the necessity of the grant. He 



