Page:The History of The Great European War Vol 1.pdf/56

 The place of Prussia in the German Empire was, at the commencement, the leading place. To-day she occupies the same place, but perhaps with, if possible, greater dominating power. The Empire is, in fact, governed by Prussia absolutely. The German principalities and kingdoms are reduced to political tutelage and subjection. Prussia has the ultimate political and financial control. Germany finds the public funds, and Prussia spends them. The peoples of Germany are soldiers of the Empire; but Prussia, at her own sweet will, leads them on to victory or defeat. It is inconceivable, and that is doubtless the reason why the fact is so little known, that in any modern civilised State its destinies should be determined by a minority, and this not even a minority of the people, but a minority of a very few so-called heads of the people— for the most part, ruling princes. It is yet more inconceivable when one remembers that this State, the German Empire, is based upon an electoral system which claims to be one of universal suffrage.

The supreme federal parliament, the Bundesrath, is composed of representatives—members of the ruling or princely caste—of the various States that are members of the German Empire. In this body, Prussia is represented by seventeen delegates out of fifty-two. It has never yet happened in the history of the present German Empire that the Bundesrath has opposed any important measure initiated by the Prussian delegates. It is obvious, therefore, that the power of Prussia in the German Empire, and ultimately that of the Kaiser, rests and depends entirely upon the fact that his subjects, the princes of his republic, have consistently played the part of mere followers and blind adherents of his and of Prussia's policies. The Kaiser being thus the exemplification of absolutism, it is no wonder that Germany is the most reactionary force in international politics. Wherever the democratic ideal emerges, whether in Germany or outside the empire, the Kaiser and his forces are there on the spot, ready and eager to quench it. This was the position of Germany before the erection of the empire. It has been her position ever since. In Italy, in Austria, in Russia, and in Turkey, the Kaiser and Prussian-Germanism have ever stood by the side of, supporting with all their influence and power, the so-called rights of despotism, as against the liberties of peoples. It is not going too far to assert that the evil influence of Prussia has done more than anything else during the present generation to keep despotism alive in the world.

In view- of this preponderating influence of Prussia and the direction in which it has made itself felt, it is a remarkable fact that the German peoples outside Prussia appear to be of quite a different type and character. Germany, from one point of view,