The German Constitution

[p. 605]

|605| which is the more feasible because these foreign powers are at the same time fellow estates of the Empire, but, [in respect of] their interest and independence, are called fellow estates only. This protection granted is, because it is sought only temporarily, no protectorate; also not because in more recent times such a name is avoided and gladly to each the title of an independent state is left, as France too in its treaties with the Cisalpine and Batavian Republics did not call itself protector, although it places armies in these states as garrisons and draws annual sums for it, which are also not called protection money, and the first paragraph of such an agreement always contains the recognition of the independence of the other state.

This warlike weakness of the German Empire is, as is clear from what has been said, not a consequence of cowardice of its inhabitants. The Germans are not an unwarlike nation, nor unacquainted with the skills that in more recent times contribute as much to victory as bravery; but also in this unhappy war the contingents of the Empire have on various occasions [by] the greatest proofs of courage and bravery shown themselves worthy of their forefathers. But there is no blessing in it. Through the impotence and weakness of the whole, because not all estates work together towards the whole, all exertions and sacrifices of individual men and corps are lost (Ehrenbreitstein). One could bring under this point of view everything that has happened in this war, how always the consequences of individual operations that were expedient in themselves were [thereby] annihilated again by the Empire not supporting those consequences …

4.

[Finances]

Since the German constitution is an old heirloom, the German state has had no finances to inherit, and in more recent times it was not allowed to arrive at making arrangements concerning them.

In the pure feudal constitution the supreme liege lord has domains for defraying those costs that the (leadership) overlordship causes him; expenditure for war every vassal has

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