14 SEPTEMBER 1867, Page 1

King William's speech to his first Federal Parliament was a

model of reticence. He did not even glance at the appearance of foreign dictation. He did not so much as suggest that a time might come when the Main would cease to be even the nominal boundary of his new Federation. With wise self-restraint, he descanted simply on the work of legislation necessary to amalga- mate the Northern Bund into a true nation. His only allusion to anything further was his expression of satisfaction that the special Zollverein or Customs' Parliament will include repre- sentatives of the South German as well as the North German States. He proposes to his Parliament legislation " on free- dom of settlement," military service, abolition of passports, assimilation of weights and measures and postage, and on North German consulates, in short, a course of legislation intended " to accommodate special interests to those of a more general and national character." He concludes by saying "it is a work of peace to which you are called, and I trust that with God's blessing the Fatherland will enjoy in peace the fruits of your labour." Whether the immediate result be peace or not, which does not depend on him, the King is no doubt right. The saying " L'Etnpire, c'est la paix" was so empty because the Empire was a yoke imposed, and not the fruit of a great popular craving for unity. The united German people will really be more power- ful, and, therefore, open to less aggressive uses, than the fractions. into which it has hitherto been divided.