The Emperor William concluded his proclamation to the German People with these words: "May God permit us, and our successors to the Imperial crown, to give at all times increase to the German Empire, not by the conquests of war, but by the goods and gifts of peace, in the path of national prosperity, freedom and morality!" After the end of the war was assured, he left Paris, and passed in a swift march of triumph through Germany to Berlin, where the popular enthusiasm was extravagantly exhibited. Four days afterwards he called together the first German Parliament (since 1849), and the organization of the new Empire was immediately commenced. It was simply, in all essential points, a renewal of the North-German Union. The Imperial Government introduced a general military, naval, financial, postal and diplomatic system for all the States, a uniformity of weights, measures and coinage,—in short, a thoroughly national union of locally independent States, all of which are embraced in a name which is no longer merely geographical—Germany. Here, then, the History of the Race ceases, and that of the Nation begins.
CHAPTER XLI.
THE NEW GERMAN EMPIRE.
(1871—1893.)
- The First German Parliament by Direct Vote.
- —The Political Factions.
- —The Ultramontane Party in Opposition to the Government.
- —Struggle with the Church of Rome.
- —"Kulturkampf."
- —Falk appointed Minister of Culture.
- —His first Success.
- —Animosity of the Pope.
- —The Jesuits expelled from Germany.
- —The May Laws.
- —The Roman Catholic Clergy rebel.
- —Civil Marriage made requisite.
- —The "Bundesrath."
- —Meeting of the Three Emperors.
- —Armaments.
- —Peace secured by Diplomacy.
- —Financial Questions.
- —Bismarck obliged to look to the Ultramontanes for Parliamentary Support.
- —A conciliatory Policy towards the Roman Church.
- —Falk resigns.
- —The Social-Democrats, and the Attacks on the Life of William I.
- —The Exceptional Law.
- —Party Dissensions.
- —A higher Protective Policy introduced.
- —New Taxes.
- —The Opening of Parliament in 1881.
- —Scheme of the Government for bettering the Condition of the Workingmen.
- —The Colonial Question.
- —War-Clouds.
- —France finds a Sympathizer in Russia.
- —The Triple Alliance.
- —The Military Budget.
- —The Dissolution of Parliament.
- —The Government gains a Victory by new Elections.
- —Ludwig II. of Bavaria and his tragic End.
- —The Death of Emperor William I.
- —Fatal Disease of the Crown-Prince.
- —The Latter as Frederick III.
- —His Death.
- —His Successor, William II.
- —Resignation of Bismarck.
- —General Caprivi made Chancellor.
- —The German-English Agreement.
- —The Triple Alliance renewed.
- —New commercial Treaties.
- —Withdrawal of the School Bill.
- —A new Army Bill rejected and Parliament dissolved.
- —New Elections result in victory for the Government.
1871. FIRST SESSION OF PARLIAMENT.
After many a dark and gloomy century, the dream of a united Germany was realized. The outer pile stood complete before the awakening nation and an astonished world; now there remained to be done the patient, painstaking work of consolidating the federation of States in all particulars, making the different parts one within as well as without.
On the 21st of March, 1871, the first German Parliament, elected by the direct vote of the people, met at Berlin, the capital of the federation, and the political parties took their stand. Bismarck, Prince, Chancellor of the Empire, acknowledged as the first statesman of Europe, saw the advantage of a liberal policy, which secured for the Government the support of the Nationals and the Liberals, and with them a sufficient majority to carry out its plans. At the same time the Chancellor had to reckon with an opposition that was threatening to German unity. Chief among it were the Ultramontanes (or Papal party), so called because they looked beyond the Alps for their sovereign guide—the Church of Rome. They formed the Centre party, and around them all the dissatisfied elements grouped themselves—the Particularists, who still held on to their petty provincial interests; the Poles from Eastern Prussia; the Danes from northern Schleswig; the Social-Democrats; and later the representatives of Alsatia and Lorraine. On the utmost right sat the old feudal nobility, which was reactionary at the outset. Although diverging far apart in aims and purposes, these different factions joined hands against the Federal Government whenever their interests were concerned, and thus at times constituted a powerful foe.
1872.
It soon became evident that the chief battle to maintain union and freedom had to be fought with the Ultramontanes, who were inspired by the counsel of the Vatican and upheld by the authority actually wielded in Germany by the Roman Catholic Church. The concessions made to it in Prussia by the romantic spirit of Frederick William IV. had borne their bitter fruit, and the Protestant kingdom had become even more a foothold for the Church of Rome than Catholic Bavaria. On the same day on which France declared war against Germany the Papal power sounded another war-trumpet by proclaiming the Dogma of Papal Infallibility. Germany had been the victor in the combat with France; it now had to encounter the other foe in defence of the best life of the nation—an untrammelled conscience, free schools, the sway of reason, and the light of science.