As has been noted above, important matters such as railway management, so far as it relates to the harmonious and effective working of the existing systems, and the construction of new lines needful for the welfare and the defence of Germany, are under the Control of the Empire—­except in the case of Bavaria.  The same holds good of posts and telegraphs except in the Southern States.  Railway companies are bound to convey troops and warlike stores at uniform reduced rates.  In fact, the Imperial Government controls the fares of all lines subject to its supervision, and has ordered the reduction of freightage for coal, coke, minerals, wood, stone, manure, etc., for long distances, “as demanded by the interests of agriculture and industry.”  In case of dearth, the railway companies can be compelled to forward food supplies at specially low rates.

Further, with respect to military affairs, the central authority exercises a very large measure of control over the federated States.  All German troops swear the oath of allegiance to the Emperor.  He appoints all commanders of fortresses; the power of building fortresses within the Empire is also vested in him; he determines the strength of the contingents of the federated States, and in the last case may appoint their commanding officers; he may even proclaim martial law in any portion of the Empire, if public security demands it.  The Prussian military code applies to all parts of the Empire (save to Bavaria, Wuertemberg, and Saxony in time of peace); and the military organisation is everywhere of the same general description, especially as regards length of service, character of the drill, and organisation in corps and regiments.  Every German, unless physically unfit, is subject to military duty and cannot shift the burden on a substitute.  He must serve for seven years in the standing army:  that is, three years in the field army and four in the reserve; thereafter he takes his place in the Landwehr[76].

[Footnote 76:  The three years are shortened to one year for those who have taken a high place in the Gymnasia (highest of the public schools); they feed and equip themselves and are termed “volunteers.”  Conscription is the rule on the coasts for service in the German Navy.  For the text of the Imperial Constitution, see Lowe, Life of Bismarck, vol. ii.  App.  F.]

The secondary States are protected in one important respect.  The last proviso of the Imperial Constitution stipulates that any proposal to modify it shall fail if fourteen, or more, votes are cast against it in the Federal Council.  This implies that Bavaria, Wuertemberg, and Saxony, if they vote together, can prevent any change detrimental to their interests.  On the whole, the new system is less centralised than that of the North German Confederation had been; and many of the Prussian Liberals, with whom the Crown Prince of Prussia very decidedly ranged himself on this question, complained that the government was more federal than ever, and that far too much had been granted to the particularist prejudices of the Southern States[77].  To all these objections Bismarck could unanswerably reply that it was far better to gain this great end without bitterness, even if the resulting compact were in some respects faulty, than to force on the Southern States a more logically perfect system that would perpetuate the sore feeling of the past.