Bismarck

by A.J.P. Taylor

It was the mistake of his successors, and perhaps even of himself, to believe that they needed even her weakness.

Not only had Austria ceased to be the dominant Power in Germany. France had ceased to be the dominant Power in Europe.

France could dominate central Europe only so long as the conflict between Prussia and Austria was not resolved.

He turned the French demand to good purpose. He revealed it to the south German states; and they, lately the enemies of Prussia, concluded alliances with her, even agreeing to put their armies under Prussian command in time of war.

The liberals held out more successfully than they had done in Prussia.

Review to recall what this means

A true budget came into existence, even though the federal parliament did not devise the taxes to meet it;1 and the federal government could not keep going unless it somehow secured the agreement of a parliamentary majority.

three-class franchise,

What?

He often suggested that parties should take the helm in order to carry out the policy which they opposed and held up the example, which he claimed with some exaggeration to have found in England: ‘If reactionary measures are to be carried, the Liberal party takes the rudder, from the correct assumption that it will not overstep the necessary limits; if liberal measures are to be carried, the Conservative party takes office in its turn from the same consideration.’

Bismarck declared: ‘Political parties and groups based on high policy and political programmes are finished. The parties will be compelled to concern themselves with economic questions and to follow a policy of interests.… They will melt like ice and snow. Voters with the same interests will co-operate and will prefer to be represented by people of their own instead of believing that the best orators are also the most skilful and most loyal representatives of their interests.’