Although the members were convened in the famous “Weisse Saal” in the royal
palace, the ceremony was of the simplest character. The Emperor was not
present, nor were any of the members of the imperial and royal family,
Bismarck, or von Moltke. The chancellor was represented by von Boetticher,
minister of the interior, who, by the Emperor’s permission, read the speech,
and declared the session opened. * * *
The speech seems to give great satisfaction throughout Europe, as a further
indication that the peace will not be immediately disturbed by reason of the
complications arising from events in Bulgaria. * * *
[Inclosure in No.
346.—Translation.]
Speech of the Emperor at the opening by
commission of the Reichstag in the “Weisse Saal,” November 25,
1886.
Herr v. Boetticher, imperial minister of the
interior, read the speech.
Honorable Gentlemen: His Majesty the Emperor
has been pleased to authorize me, in the name of the confederated
Governments, to open the Reichstag. The most important duty which will
occupy the Reichstag is its co-operation in the further securing of the
military strength of the Empire.
By the law of the 6th May, 1880, the strength of the peace establishment
of the army was settled until the 31st of March, 1888.
The permanancy of our military affairs requires, therefore, the renewal
of its legal basis. In the army lies the assurance of the continued
protection of the blessings of peace; and, if the policy of the Empire
is to remain a peaceful one, Germany cannot, in view of the development
of the military establishments of our neighbor-states, longer refuse an
increase of its armaments, and especially of its present peace
establishment. A bill will be laid before you, according to the
provisions of which the increase of the effective strength of the army
will come into operation with the begining of the new fiscal year. His
Majesty the Emperor, in common with the confederated Governments,
cherishes the confidence that the necessity of this demand, unavoidable
in view of the interest of our national safety, will be fully recognized
by the whole body of the German people and their representatives.
A second bill which will occupy you concerns the care of the widows and
orphans of the members of the army of the Empire and of the imperial
marine. The necessity of this care has already been recognized. The
confederated Governments believe that they may the more confidently rely
on the passage of this law, inasmuch as this new bill meets
substantially the views expressed in the Reichstag, touching some
modifications.
In the provision for the cost involved in these bills, as well as in the
expenditures proposed in the household budget, consideration of the
financial situation has not been left out of view. However, an increase
of the contribution on the part of the states and the means to be
provided by way of credit cannot be avoided; besides the increase of
expenditures caused by the strengthening of our military position on the
water and by land, and the greater outlay imposed on us by our just
obligations in reference to the indebtedness of the Empire and the
pension system, a considerable deficiency of the sugar tax of the last
year needs to be supplied.
Under these circumstanees the necessity, repeatedly presented to the
Reichstag, of a different distribution of burdens by an increase of the
indirect taxes, not only continues, but in consequence of the estimated
increase regarding the contribution of the various states, will be more
stringently felt than heretofore. At the same time the confederated
Governments have been forced to infer from the votes given by the
Reichstag over their plans of taxation that their unanimous conviction
of the necessity of a change in the manner of providing the needed
revenue is not shared by the majority of the population and their
representatives at the time, to such a degree, that the agreeing
conclusions of the two legislative bodies of the Empire could be
expected with greater probability than in the last year.
In consideration that the confederated Governments have no other interest than that of the nation, His
Majesty declines to press anew his own conviction of the necessity of
the tax reform heretofore urged in vain, so long as this necessity is
not recognized by the people, and has not found expression in the
elections.
The further execution of the social legislation adopted on the reasoning
of the imperial message of the 17th November, 1881, lies constantly near
to the heart of the Emperor and of his high associates. If certain
provisions of the law for the insurance of those who are sick or injured
by accident may be advantageously amended, nevertheless, it may be
recognized with satisfaction that the paths which the German Empire, in
advance of all other states have trodden in this field have proven
themselves as passable, and the new organizations generally commend
themselves. The next task for the development of these organizations is
to extend the benefits of the accident-insurance to larger circles of
the working population. To this end two bills will be laid before you.
The one regulates the accident-insurance for the seafarers, the other
for workmen engaged on buildings, so far as these classes are not
embraced in the legislation already adopted. Only after the
accident-insurance of workmen shall have thus been brought nearer to
completion in a very considerable degree can progress be made in
bestowing upon the working classes a corresponding measure of provision
for their old age and invalidism on the basis of the newly created
organizations. For the attaining of this end, however, expenditures from
the imperial treasury will be necessary, which are not at our
disposition with our present taxation legislation.
In full appreciation of the importance of the manufacturing class for the
common social welfare, the confederated Governments have followed with
interest the efforts
[Page 333]
by which
the German manufacture seeks to strengthen its corporate associations
and to elevate its economic condition. As to the methods which the
legislation has adopted in this direction, considerations are suggested
which have not yet reached a conclusion, but which give reason to expect
that they will lead to a result conducing to the best interest of this
class.
The legally prescribed revision of the indemnification for quartering
soldiers and of the classification of cities had not been concluded at
the last session of the Reichstag. The necessary papers for completing
it will be laid again before you.
The scheme of a law for the establishment of a seminary for Oriental
languages, which was not finally considered at the last session, will be
again brought forward immediately.
The Reichstag has repeatedly given expression to its wish for a reduction
of the costs of court and a revision of the fee bill for attorneys. The
investigations which were instituted, aside from certain declarations of
the law regulating the amount of costs of courts, do not show the
necessity of a change on the existing schedule of costs. On the other
hand the confederated Governments entertain the opinion that the fee
bill of the attorneys can bear in some respect a reduction without
injury to the interest of this class of officials. An appropriate bill
will be laid before you.
The relations of the German Empire with all foreign states are peaceful
and satisfactory. The policy of His Majesty the Emperor is constantly
directed, not only to secure to the German people the blessings of
peace, but also to make available for preserving the unity of all the
powers that influence in the councils of Europe which accrues to the
German policy from its assured love of peace, from the confidence of the
other Governments obtained by this love of peace, from the absence of
special interests in existing questions, and especially from the close
friendship which binds His Majesty the Emperor to the two neighboring
imperial courts.
By the commands of His Majesty the Emperor I declare in the name of the
confederated Governments that the Reichstag is opened.
