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Description - Count Bismarck; A Political Biography by Ludwig Bamberger

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1869 edition. Excerpt: ... Chapter IV. Constitutional government in Germany.--Army reorganisation scheme.--Bismarck ambassador at Paris; interviews with Napoleon.--Conduct towards the Chamber as Minister President; acts of his administration.--Preparations for rupture with Austria.--Austria's "delegate scheme"; its failure; reproduction of scheme at the Congress of Princes.--Prussia's refusal of adherence.--Her threats of war.--Incredulity of the Public.--Death of the King of Denmark. Constitutional government has hitherto been little more than a name in Germany. The ministers have, practically, never obeyed the will of the majority however clearly expressed. In the forty years during which the States have possessed representative chambers, the event of a ministry resigning after a parliamentary defeat has not occurred more than once or twice, in all the states put together great and small. The views of the reigning families on this subject are firmly fixed, once for all. It seems to them nothing short of monstrous to think of setting up the will of the subject in place of the sovereign decision of the ruler. In Berlin, particularly, royalty has always regarded it as a ridiculous assumption that a Prussian sovereign should submit to have ministers forced upon him by the representatives of the people. In what sense, then, did King William, in spite of this absolute conviction, declare in his speeches--in very vague terms, it is true--that he would faithfully observe the constitution? What was his idea of a constitution, which allowed him for four years to dispose of the taxes without the sanction of the Chambers? Ever since the existence of a constitution on paper, the liberal party had lived in the hope of seeing the rulers gradually adopt constitutional...

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