Page:The Annual Register 1899.djvu/284

 276] FOREIGN HISTORY. [1899.

current year. The might of a strong united empire obeying one will should be exercised for this great work with all its power."

Notwithstanding this statement the bill was rejected by the Landtag a fortnight afterwards. The diet was then closed (Aug. 29), and the following curious edict was sent by Prince Hohenlohe to all the chief presidents of provinces in Prussia : —

" The royal Government, to its keen regret, has been com- pelled to notice that a number of the officials whose duty it is to support the policy of his Majesty the King and to execute and advance the measures of his Majesty's Government are not sufficiently conscious of this obligation.

" Not only the higher political officials, but also the King's Landrathe, ought not to allow themselves to be misled in their official activity by the feelings prevalent in their districts, or by the opinions of the population concerning the measures of his Majesty's Government ; it is their business and their duty to represent the views of the latter with which they are acquainted, to smooth the way for carrying out its policy, especially in questions of importance, and to create and cultivate among the people a correct appreciation of this policy. In all relations of public life into which they are brought by their official position, they have to remember that they are the supporters of the policy of his Majesty's Government, and have to advocate effectively its point of view, and that in no circumstances have they the right, on the ground of their own personal opinions, to fetter the action of the Government. Otherwise they would by their conduct weaken the authority of the Government, imperii the unity of the Administration, paralyze its strength, and bring confusion into the minds of the public.

" Such conduct is opposed to all the traditions of the Prussian Administration, and cannot be tolerated.

" We trust that it will suffice earnestly and distinctly to call the attention of political officials to this point, and we hope that no further occasion will be given for adopting more extreme measures."

This edict was followed by a wholesale dismissal of officials. All the court dignitaries who voted against the bill were placed on half -pay, on the ground that they had " set themselves in personal opposition to his Majesty," and the same punishment was inflicted on the Landrathe (paid justices of the peace) who had either voted against the bill in the Landtag or had agitated against it in their districts. This measure produced great excitement among the junkers of Eastern Prussia. A torchlight procession took place at Dramburg, in Pomerania, in honour of the deposed Landrathe there, and the local society of veterans of the German Army took part in it. Thus did the personal inter- ference of the Emperor once more produce a Government defeat, this time by the Conservative party, and an outburst of popular indignation at the violation of the article in the constitution which declares that members of Parliament are not to be pun-