Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] THURSDAY, 22nd DECEMBER, 1932. THE GERMAN EMPIRE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 December 1932, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Over 50 Years.] THURSDAY, 22nd DECEMBER, 1932. THE GERMAN EMPIRE.

The German Empire, from its establishment in IS7I to its supersession by the Republic, bad a career of less than fifty years, and it was not a spontaneous growth. For centuries “Germany” was merely a geographical expression, being made up of a congeries of independent and occasionally hostile units. The creation of the Empire was preceded by more or less loose confederations, brought about, chiefly by the sword. In 1866, during the Anstro-Prnssian war, many of the German States took the side of Austria, and were defeated in battle by Prussia. Some of them were then annexed by Prussia ; the remainder north of the Main were recpiired to enter a North German confederation. This development came to pass, as Bismarck had predicted, “not by speeches and majority votes, but by blood and iron.” From this arrangement the Southern States were excluded. Five years later, after the victory over France, the Empire was proclaimed. At the time few were aware of the difficulty with which the final step) had been won, or the reluctance with which King Louis of Bavaria signed the letter conveying the proposal to bis brother princes, a letter written by the band of Bismarck. Thereafter, the Empire presented an aspect

of unshakable' solidarity. But, with the Parliamentary system in danger of breaking down, radical amendments to the Constitution projected, and the tide of Communism rising, it is not easy to presage what the future has in store for Germany.