The speech, as might have been expected, has created great
excitement in Germany. The Prussians contend that there is a specific clause in the Constitution authorising them to grumble—which is true, free speech being guaranteed—and ask whether the Emperor-King denies his Parliament any power at all. All sections of Liberals are united in hostility to the Education Bill, if it is to be, as it were, passed by Royal order ; and the Ministry can obtain no majority without fur- ther concessions to the Catholics of the Centre, who, of course, approve the Bill. It is even said that Prince Bismarck will descend from his retirement, and, leading the opposi- tion to the Bill, force himself back into power. We doubt it. Hohenzollerns are not beaten so easily, and nine-tenths of the Bill could be carried into effect by an administrative order to all schoolmasters. They cannot afford either to resign or to fight the King. Moreover, Prince Bismarck is not coming back to power to execute the will of a
Parliamentary majority. He would break with it in ten days, and between King and Reichstag would be reduced to nothingness.
