Bismarck and the foundation of the German empire . form to the whole of the Prussian Conservative party was purely Prus-sian, it was Particularist; had he continued to dependupon it, then all the members sent to the newReichstag, not only from Saxony, but also from theannexed States, would have been thrown into oppo-sition ; the Liberal party had always been not Prus-sian but German ; now that he had to govern solarge a portion of Germany, that which had in thepast been the great cause of difference would be thestrongest bond of union. The National Liberalparty was alone able
Bismarck and the foundation of the German empire . form to the whole of the Prussian Conservative party was purely Prus-sian, it was Particularist; had he continued to dependupon it, then all the members sent to the newReichstag, not only from Saxony, but also from theannexed States, would have been thrown into oppo-sition ; the Liberal party had always been not Prus-sian but German ; now that he had to govern solarge a portion of Germany, that which had in thepast been the great cause of difference would be thestrongest bond of union. The National Liberalparty was alone able to join him in the work of cre-ating enthusiasm for the new institutions and newloyalty. How often had he in the old days com-plained of the Liberals that they thought not asPrussians, that they were ashamed of Prussia, thatthey were not really loyal to Prussia. Now he knewthat just for this reason they would be most loyal tothe North German Confederation. Bismarcks moderation in the hour of victorymust not obscure the importance of his BISMARCK AND HIS DOGS. 1866] The Conquest of Germany. 289 The question had been tried which should rule—?the Crown or the Parliament ; the Crown had wonnot only a physical but a moral victory. Bismarckhad maintained that the House of Representativescould not govern Prussia; the foreign affairs of theState, he had always said, must be carried on by aMinister who was responsible, not to the House, butto the King. No one could doubt that had theHouse been able to control him he would not havewon these great successes. From that time the con-fidence of the German people in Parliamentary gov-ernment was broken. Moreover, it was the firsttime in the history of Europe in which one of thesestruggles had conclusively ended in the defeat ofParliament. The result of it was to be shewn in thehistory of every country in Europe during the nextthirty years. It is the most serious bloAv which theprinciple of representative government has yet re-cei
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade1890, booksubjectbismarckottofrstvon1
