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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 Feb'ruary 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

the future might have in store, Germany might rest assured that the blood of her sons would be sacrificed or risked only for the protection of her own honor and interests. But the most important question for which the extraordinary session had been called were the three great judicial bills (the law on the constitution of the courts, the civil process, and the criminal process), to the consideration of which the Imperial Commission of Justice had devoted itself since February, with great diligence. Many differences of opinion which had shown themselves in the Federal Council had been settled by the commission, but the propositions of the commission still differed materially on many important points from the resolutions of the united governments. On this point the speech expressly said: "If the united governments hold to the conviction that a happy solution of the task imposed upon the present session by the consideration of the judicial laws is still possible, they do so in the firm belief that you, gentlemen, in considering these questions, will keep in view a safe and unrestricted execution of justice." The organization of the Reichstag occupied two days, because, instead of Prof. Hänel, a member of the "Party of Progress," Herr von Benda, a National Liberal, was elected second vice-president. After having rapidly disposed of the budget for the first quarter of 1877, the Reichstag instructed the Imperial Commission of Justice to consider and report on the differences still existing between it and the Federal

Council; and, in order to give the commission time for this work, the Reichstag took a recess of one week, from November 8th to November 15th. A number of these points were settled by compromises in the commission; but the most important points, as the position of the press (referring all press offenses before a jury, and the abolition of compulsory testimony of the persons employed in the office of a journal against the responsible editor), and the relation of the courts to the administration, were referred by the commission to the Reichstag. In the second reading of the bills, begun on November 15th and finished December 3d, the Reichstag in all cases decided, by large majorities, for the propositions of the commission, and against the objections of the Federal Council. After the second reading was finished Prince Bismarck declared that not less than nineteen points could not be accepted by the united governments, and that the whole work would be a failure if the Reichstag would not relent. To avert this, the leaders of the National Liberal party, Von Bennigsen, Miquel, and Lasker, declared themselves willing to enter upon some compromise, which offer was accepted by the chancellor. A compromise was finally agreed upon, satisfactory to both parties, the National Liberals sacrificing the clause with regard to the press, while the governments consented to relinquish the preponderating influence of the administration over the courts. This compromise was not only bitterly attacked by the Catholics and the Social

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history of our country can show. It will be the work of future sessions to effect legal unity in the whole domain of the civil law." The Emperor proceeded to thank the deputies in very cordial terms for their assiduous and successful labors, and expressed himself firmly confident that on the reassembling of the Reichstag it would be enabled to direct its exclusive attention to the peaceful task of developing the national judicial system." Adverting in conclusion to foreign affairs, the Emperor said: "The negotiations of the powers upon the Eastern question, as far as they have hitherto proceeded, justify the hope that my efforts and the mutually conciliatory and peaceful intentions of the powers immediately concerned will be successful in solving pending questions without prejudice to the good relations now existing between them. Germany will continue, by friendly and disinterested mediation, to lend her coöperation for the attainment of this end."

In the Eastern question the German Government occupied a quiet attitude. Besides the statements made in the different speeches from the throne, the Government in November made an important declaration on this subject. Herr von Bülow, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, replying to a question of Dr. Jörg, a member of the Reichstag, said that it was at the present moment impossible for the Government to give information upon pending

questions. He continued: "You know that the policy of the Emperor is a policy of peace, a policy which declines to interfere in foreign matters. Up to the present the development of affairs in Turkey has not touched us directly, nor will it easily affect us indirectly. In the presence of the armistice we can look forward to the future with tranquillity. The policy of Germany with all friendly powers is based upon amity, esteem, and confidence. This is manifest from all the negotiations which have been hitherto carried on, and the Government intends to maintain this position in the future also, if the nation and its representatives place full confidence in the Government. It is not the intention of the Government to withhold from the representative body of the people any necessary communications respecting the situation. The policy of Germany will ever be pacific. Germany will always remain a bulwark of peace, and this bulwark will be so firm that we will claim the confidence of the popular representatives, and, indeed, deserve it."

The foreign relations of the Government were also in other respects of a very peaceful and satisfactory nature. The difficulty with Spain with regard to the seizure of the German schooner Minna by the Governor of the Philippines in 1875 was settled by the release of the vessel in January. The difficulty with China with regard to the German bark Anna,

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