Baron Eckhardstein, who comes from Nassau, is endeavouring to form
a new party in the Reichstag, who shall be independent both of the Agrarians and the Democrats, and shall be known as the Kaiser's party. The same plan was tried by George III. in this country, but though patronage, and even money, wore unscrupulously used to foster it, it did not succeed. The men competent to influence a Parliament will not take private orders, and the double allegiance to Kaiser and constituents is soon found to be impossible. The German Government is circulating assurances that it does not intend to abolish the Reichstag, but it is pretty evident that it is most anxious to obtain the mastery of it. For the moment it has obtained it, the Agrarians, the Clericals, and the National Liberals having come to an agreement which enables them to control the House, but it has been obliged to hive up a cherished item of its policy,—viz., moderate duties upon cereals. The plain truth of the matter is that government by the aid of shifting groups is very nearly impossible, and that if the Executive is not willing to see two strong parties form themselves, and to work with both of them in turn, most of the advantages of a Parliament will be lost, while all the disadvantages are intensified. At the present moment, though the Government has a majority, the Reichstag is acting as a heavy drag upon its progress.
