ABSTRACT
One can expect nothing useful in the way of leadership or representation from the Federal Assembly in the promotion of national needs. The Assembly has not solved those tasks, such as creating state constitutions, free trade and traffic, river shipping, free press etc., which are laid down in the Act of Confederation; the confederal military constitution has led neither to a popular militia nor an organized army of the Confederation. On the contrary, the press is censored, the Assembly meetings are hidden in darkness, with an occasional decision coming to light which obstructs any free development. The only bond of common German interests, the Customs Union, was not created by the Confederation but outside it through treaties between individual states; even discussions of a law of exchange and a postal service are carried on by representatives of individual governments, not by the assembly. This and other considerations are connected to the question – will national representation in the Federal Assembly improve matters and thus be a worthwhile aim for all friends of the fatherland? Those will answer in the affirmative who feel that a representation of all the states of the Confederation can only be established through the existing institution of the federal governments, and expect that the growing strength of public opinion will seek to bring about the development of a German policy, with the aid of all the spiritual and material resources of the nation. Against this it will be maintained that however sublime the idea, yet its realisation is not possible. The Confederation contains members, such as Denmark and the Netherlands, which, as external powers, will never ally themselves to a German policy and the strengthening of German power. Other members are not exclusively German powers or contain territory, such as East Prussia, which is German but does not belong to the Confederation. Furthermore, national representation requires national government, armed with all the powers of a sovereign state, powers which the Bund does not have. The aim of uniting Germany for a German policy and common leadership and concern for national interests will rather be achieved when public opinion has been won over.
