Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/327

 THE NORTH SLESWIC QUESTION 313

legislative assemblies of Prussia cannot be said correctly to mirror the prevailing opinions of the electorate at large. From their overwhelming reactionary majority any voice being raised in behalf of liberalism in any form can count on little sympathy. The Reichstag, on the other hand, being the product of universal suffrage and representing all parts of the empire, might a priori be supposed to be more favorably disposed toward a considera- tion of interests other than those of an arrogant militarism.

As a matter of fact, weighty voices have from time to time been lifted in the halls of Parliament in denunciation of the Bismarck-Koller regime. The Polish and Alsatian repre- sentatives are the natural allies of their Danish colleague and can always be relied upon to furnish the signatures required for bringing a matter officially before the house. But also some of the German factions have not seldom been outspoken in their criticism of governmental measures touching Sleswic. The large Center, or Catholic, party, for instance, though never acting in unison in Sleswic affairs, has through the utterances and votes of many of its most prominent members often set the Protes- tant side an example in national tolerance. The Liberal (Freisinnige] groups, numerically weak, but notable for the indi- vidual quality of their membership, have likewise shown a decided disposition to go against the government in its treat- ment of the Sleswicians, and much warmth and sincerity of feel- ing have occasionally been displayed in their behalf. It -is, however, to the Social Democrats, as being utterly and uncom- promisingly opposed to the entire prevailing system of govern- mental oppression in any form, that the Danes more and more have come to look for sympathy and help. To them as a par- liamentary faction they owe a large debt of gratitude for the substantial support rendered at critical moments, when the members of the Liberal bourgeois parties have wavered between their adherence to the traditional policy of the empire and their individual sense of justice, or for tactical reasons have hesitated.

Especially during the debates precipitated by the wholesale banishments in 1899 the administration was subjected -to scathing criticism. Dr. Lieber, leader of the Centrists, expressed