The Founding of the German Empire by William I. (Volume 6); Based Chiefly Upon Prussian State Documents (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1897. Excerpt: ... 1867 SPEECH FROM THE PRUSSIAN THRONE. 57 the Reichstag that, as soon as possible, steps would be taken toward the negotiation of treaties with South Germany on the basis of the Treaty of Prague, according to which the adjustment of the international relations between the North and the South had been left to the unbiassed mutual decision of the contracting parties. In Paris no objection could be made to this, but all the stronger grew the feeling of apprehensiveness and of aversion toward the reconstruction of German affairs now begun. It was clear to all that the action of the two parliaments would be controlled by the great, and at that time still undecided, question of the attitude which the new Germany would assume toward the French Empire. Upon its answer, both on this side and on that, depended the future of the two nations and the peace of the world. CHAPTER II. THE FIRST WEEKS OF THE REICHSTAG. At the impressive opening of the Reichstag on Sunday, February 24th, 1867, the speech from the throne, read by King William, declared the stand taken by the Allied Governments. It stated that the former greatness of Germany had been destroyed by internal dissension; that the desire for that which had been lost had, however, never ceased, --our times were filled with such aspirations. Until now these had but increased the disunion, because the ideals entertained had been allowed to interfere with the appreciation of the true significance of existing facts. Unity must be sought by taking advantage of the actual conditions, and not by sacrificing the attainable to the desirable. Therefore the several Governments had, according to custom, come to an understanding in regard to a number of limited and decided, but practically important measures, which were not only..