Monarchies and Republics [pp. 146-156]

MONARCHIES AND REPUBLICS.
stopped short in her career of triumph, and is now busily organizing the newly-acquired territories with a view, however, of
seizing upon the first favorable moment to take all that is left.
Here we come to our point in question. Despite the resistance
which Prussia met with at the commencement of the war, not
only from the jealous, petty kings and dukes of Germany, but
also, and from more just causes, from the population of those
states, she has accomplished a large portion of her work. Although the practice of the court of Berlin ill questions of constitutional freedom has been that of absolute, supercilious monarchy, her whole system of administration in commercial and
educational points of view has been a most liberal one. Her
military organization is well calculated, as the war has proved, to
provide a most efficient army in cases of war, but it has also the
advantage of every other in modern Europe, with the exception
of Switzerland, to entail a less degree of burden upon the community in times of peace. Her taxation is light, her finances
wisely and faithfully regulated, her educational system effective
and general, her industry has made astonishing progress, and
her commerce is not inconsiderable. All these advantages taken
into consideration, the conquered territories have concluded to
abide by the result the more readily, as Bismarck has opened the
way to a more timely and more liberal policy than has hitherto
reigned supremely in the relations between government and
representation. A parliament is to be immediately convened for
the framing of a new, constitution, and from the strong opposition the Prussian cabinet met with, not only in the states now
annexed and allied, but also in the representatives of Prussia
herself, it is a matter of more than probability that said constitution will be based upon the most decided progress. The elective law for that parliament puts to shame the time-honored
liberty of England; it excludes none but felons. As luck would,
the king of Prussia, though a confirmed aristocrat by training,
is too honest and too much of a soldier to trouble his brains
much about constitutional questions and points of law —he leaves
that to his miniisters and to-his wife, a superior woman indeed!
Thus we see Italy and Prussia decidedly in the van of progress.
They have felt that the drifting of the tinmes is towards democratic institutions, and that if they would save monarchy, they
must give it a new and more reasonable shape. As things stand
now, it promises well for the fuiture-there is the executive
power still united in one strong hand, untrammeled and unlimited
by anything but general views of utility and responsibility, but
there is an irresistible power vested in the right of refusing
taxes, to which once Charles I. succumbed, and to which even
Bismarck had to yield and the king to apologize. That salutary
influence is due to the great Republic of America.
It is a happy incident for Germany that a Bismarck was on
band to adapt the prevailing democratic tendencies to the wants
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