Kings of Prussia and German Emperors have never shown much affection for their Parliaments:  Parliaments are apt to act as a check upon monarchy, and in Prussia in particular to interfere with the carrying out of the divinely imposed mission.  This is not said sarcastically; and the Emperor, like some of his ancestors, has more than once expressed the same thought.  Parliaments in Germany only date from after the French Revolution.  After that event there came into existence in Germany the Frankfurt Parliament (1848), the Erfurt Parliament (1850), and the Parliament of the German Customs Union (1867).  These, however, were not popularly elected Parliaments like those of the present day, but gatherings of class delegates from the various Kingdoms and States composing the Germany and Austria of the time.  Since the Middle Ages there had always been quasi-popular assemblies in Prussia, but they too were not elected, and only represented classes, not constituencies.  The present Parliaments in Prussia and the Empire are Constitutional Parliaments in the English sense, elected by universal suffrage, the one indirectly, the other directly.

The present Prussian Diet dates from the “First Unified Diet,” summoned by Frederick William IV in 1847, which was transformed next year under pressure of the revolutionists into a “national assembly.”  This was treated a year after by General Wrangel almost exactly as Cromwell treated the Rump.  The General entered Berlin with the troops which a few weeks before had fought against the revolutionists of the “March days.”  He passed along the Linden to the royal theatre, where the “national assembly” was in session, and was met at the door by the leader of the citizens’ guard with the proud words, “The guard is resolved to protect the honour of the National Assembly and the freedom of the people, and will only yield to force.”

Wrangel took out his watch—­one can imagine the old silver “turnip”—­and with his thumb on the dial replied: 

“Tell your city guard that the force is here.  I will be responsible for the maintenance of order.  The National Assembly has fifteen minutes in which to leave the building and the city guard in which to withdraw.”

In a quarter of an hour the building was empty, and next day the city guard was dissolved.  A month later the King, Frederick William IV, granted his octroyierte Constitution—­that is, a concession of his own royal personal will—­which established the Diet as it is to-day.

Emperor William I, as King of Prussia, had a good deal of trouble with his Parliament, and in 1852 wanted to abdicate rather than rule in obedience to a parliamentary majority—­it was the “conflict time” about funds for army reorganization.  Bismarck dissuaded him from doing so by promising to become Minister and carry on the government, if need were, without a parliament and without a budget.  He actually did so for some years, but there was no change in the Constitution as a result.