The Age of Bismarck by Thomas Dyer

Author:Thomas Dyer
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pronoun

Ad interim treaties of alliance, offensive and defensive, were signed between Prussia and the States that were to form the new Northern Bund, till its constitution should be definitely settled. A Congress for that purpose was opened at Berlin, December 15th, and the new federal Pact was signed, February 8th, 1867. The subscribing States were, besides Prussia and Lauenburg, Saxony, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Saxe-Weimar, Oldenburg, Brunswick, Saxe-Meiningen, Saxe-Altenburg, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, Anhalt,Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, Waldeck, the two Reuss, Schaumburg-Lippe, Lübeck, Bremen, Hamburg, and Grand Ducal Hesse north of the Main; Luxembourg and Limburg were left out. Saxony, the only State likely to offer opposition, was militarily occupied by Prussia, and King John came to see his new ally at Berlin. The States of the Confederation retained their domestic autonomy; but, for federal purposes, such as military organization and imposts, they were subject to the decision of the Diet, or Parliament. The legislative power was vested in that body, and a federal Council composed of representatives from the different States. The number of votes in the Council was forty-three, of which Prussia had seventeen, or more than a third. The King of Prussia, as President of the Council, had the executive power, and also commanded the army of the Bund. Bismarck was made its Chancellor.

Prussia also sought to extend her influence over the southern States, and forced them into treaties with her by representing the probable demands of France, who had, indeed, shown her teeth. Secret offensive and defensive treaties were signed with Baden, Bavaria, and Württemberg, for the reciprocal guarantee of territories, and in case of war, Prussia was to have the command of their armies. They were also bound to her by the Zollverein.

The results of the war for Prussia were the undivided hegemony of North Germany, her supremacy throughout the nation by the overthrow of Austria and her exclusion from the Confederation, the military command of South Germany, and the ground laid for future economical direction. The material advantages were the annexation of Schleswig-Holstein, Electoral Hesse, Nassau, Frankfurt, and some minor territories, increasing her population to 24,000,000, to which must be added, in a military point of view, 5,000,000 in the northern Bund, and about 9,000,000 in the southern States belonging to the Zollverein. Her territory was rendered more coherent and compact; she had received 60,000,000 thalers in indemnities, and she had obtained possession of military ports, which rendered maritime development possible. King William gained some popularity by soliciting from the Prussian Parliament a Bill of Indemnity for the unconstitutional measures be bad adopted, to insure his success and Prussia’s aggrandizement.

The first parliament under the new federal constitution was opened September 10th, 1867. Seven permanent committees were appointed for the affairs of the Confederation, such as war, finance, justice, etc. As regards military arrangements, every citizen from the age of seventeen to forty-two was subject to serve in the army. This was divided into three bodies—the standing army, the Landwehr, and the Landsturm. The army is recruited by conscription, from which there is no exemption.

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