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Fourteen German states have a Diet consisting of one chamber only, and one of these, the duchy of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, has, besides the common Diet for the entire duchy, two particular Diets, one for the former duchy of Coburg, and one for the former duchy of Gotha. In the majority of these states the members of the Diets are chosen partly by the owners of Rittergüter, or noble estates, partly by the cities, and partly by the rural districts. In several, the sovereign has the right of appointing a few members. The following table exhibits the composition of all these Diets:

II. STATES WITH ONE CHAMBER.

REPRESENTATIVES

Of Landed Estate.

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10

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21

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3

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8

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9

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General representation.

Separate Diets. General representation.

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10

3

5

086

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5 gen. elected.

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2

36

1: 5,900

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4

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3

7

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7

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5

5

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8

9

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1,071,214,146

846,669,318

2,342,149,034

4,260,032,498

715,756,780

40,398,404

135,439,830

891,590,014

307,449.281

31,135,586

187,598,030

476,182,847

826,755,881

2,287,764

828,998,645

816,024,905

11,461,182

827,486,087

87.782,182

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at Bern, embraced at the close of 1876 an area of 46,000,000 square kilometres (= 17,760,000 sq. m.), with 628,000,000 inhabitants. Among the states belonging to the Union are all the states of Europe; in America, the United States and the French colonies; in Asia, Asiatic Russia, Asiatic Turkey, British India, and the French colonies; in Africa, Egypt, Zanzibar, Tunis, Morocco, the French, Spanish, and Portuguese possessions; in Australia, the French colonies. The postal statistics of the empire were, according to the latest official publications, as follows:

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The German Reichstag, after its recess for the holidays, resumed its labors on January 19th. The first question of importance that came before it was a consideration of the amendments to the penal code. The conflict between the Liberal majority and Prince Bismarck, which had begun in 1875, continued in 1876. On January 27th a spirited debate ensued on the amendment to section 130, directed against acts inciting hostility between different classes and attacking national institutions, in the course of which Count Eulenburg, the Minister of the Interior, stated that the paragraph was directed against the Social Democrats, against whom the Government was in need of more effectual weapons. He declared their aim to be the "Red Republic," with communism and atheism. The paragraph was finally rejected by a unanimous vote. On the 28th the Reichstag rejected the addition prohibiting the publication of political pastoral letters and encyclicals, and on the 29th they adopted the so-called "Arnim paragraph," relating to offenses similar to that of Count Arnim. The second reading of the amendments was finished on the 29th, the other paragraphs besides those mentioned being of minor importance. In the third reading the "pulpit paragraph," which had been rejected in the second reading, was also passed, and on February 10th Prince Bismarck read an imperial message, closing the session, and, in the name of the Federal Council, thanked the House for their labors. Besides the amendment to the penal code, the House in the session passed, among other laws, the law against the copying of works of art, of models and patterns, and of photographs.

Soon after the close of the Reichstag in February the Parliaments of the different German states began to assemble: in Weimar, on February 14th for Mecklenburg, in Sternberg, on February 16th; and in Munich and Dresden, on February 21st. The all-absorbing question in all of these states was the scheme of the Imperial Government for buying up all the German railroads. In the Bavarian Chamber of Deputies the matter was brought up by an in

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terpellation of the Government by Herr Freitag, one of the leaders of the Catholic party, who assumed that the Bavarian Government railroads were also to be bought by the empire. Against such a plan (the assumption of which was, however, entirely unwarranted by the facts), Herr von Pfretzschner, the President of the Ministry, declared himself with great precision, making particular reference to the reserved rights of Bavaria. In the beginning of March similar interpellations were raised in Carlsruhe and Dresden, and were answered in both states with equal decision as in Bavaria. In Dresden a resolution was passed at the same time by a vote of 66 to 7, requesting of the Government to oppose every demand for the sale of the Saxon railways, while a resolution in favor of a strong railroad law for the empire was rejected by a vote of 53 to 15. In Stuttgart the Chamber of Deputies passed a resolution by a vote of 88 to 6 against the purchase of the railroads by the empire, but also one demanding a stronger railroad law for the empire. In Bavaria the conflict between the Catholic majority of two against the ministry, and particularly against Herr Lutz, the Minister of Religious Affairs, continued during 1876 with the same want of success as during the previous year. The King effectually aided the ministry, while the more liberal faction of the Catholic party, under Dr. Jörg, avoided extreme measures. The action of the Catholics in invalidating the election of Liberals in several districts resulted in the reelection of the Liberal candidates by increased majorities. In Saxony the Government brought in several bills, which had for their object the restriction of the power of the Catholic clergy. On May 17th the Landesausschuss of AlsaceLorraine met for the first time in Strasburg, its labors being approved both by the Government and the people of these provinces. In the Lower Chamber of Baden a very spirited debate ensued, when, in considering the budget, the title "Catholic Church" was reached. As the archiepiscopal see of Freiburg remained vacant during 1875, the Government had made no demand for the 13,400 florins usually appropri

ated for the table of the archbishop, with the reservation that if, in 1876 or 1877 an appointment should be made, to pay the usual dotation from the day of appointment. The Clerical party made an amendment to this, that the usual dotation be again inserted. This was voted down after a lively debate.

The Imperial Government lost one of its oldest and most efficient members by the resignation of Herr Delbrück, the President of the Imperial Chancery. The resignation was accepted in the middle of April by the Emperor.

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The reason for this step was stated by Herr Delbrück to be his shattered health, although it was rumored that differences of opinion with Prince Bismarck, particularly on the railroad question, were the real causes. These rumors were emphatically denied by Prince Bismarck in the Prussian Chamber of Deputies. As his successor the Emperor appointed Herr Hofmann, formerly Minister of Hesse-Darmstadt. The fourth and last session of the Reichstag elected in 1873 was opened on October 30th. The speech from the throne was read by Herr

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Hofmann, the Emperor being absent on account of indisposition. The imperial speech mentioned the general depression of trade and industry in Germany and throughout the world, and stated that the object of the Government's commercial policy would be the protection of German industry from the prejudicial effects of one-sided customs regulations in other countries. This object would be kept specially in view in impending negotiations

for the renewal of commercial treaties. Germany's foreign relations, notwithstanding the difficulties of the present political situation, were fully accordant with the Emperor's pacific policy. His constant endeavor was to preserve friendly relations with all powers, especially those connected with Germany by ties of neighborhood and history, and, as far as peace might be endangered among such, to preserve it by friendly mediation. Whatever

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