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concerned which swept away the old vicious system； partitioned
the islands between the United States and Germany； giving Great
Britain indemnity elsewhere； and settled all the questions
involved； as we may hope； forever。
Among my duties and pleasures during this period was attendance
upon important debates in the Imperial Parliament。 That body
presents many features suggestive of thought。 The arrangement
under which the Senate； representing the various states of the
empire； and the House； representing the people as a whole； sit
face to face in joint deliberation； strikes an American as
especially curious； but it seems to work well； and has one
advantage in bringing the most eminent servants of the various
states into direct personal relations with the rank and file from
the country at large。 The German Parliament has various good
points。 Some one has asserted that the United States Senate is as
much better than the British House of Lords as the British House
of Commons is better than the American House of Representatives。
There is much to be said for this contention； and there are some
points in which the German Parliament also struck me as an
improvement upon our Lower House： they do less than we in
committee； and more in the main assemblage； German members are
more attentive to the work in hand； and spread…eagleism and
speeches to the galleries which are tolerated at Washington are
not tolerated at Berlin。 On the other hand； the members at
Berlin； not being paid for their services； absent themselves in
such numbers that the lack of a sufficient deliberating body has
been found； at times； a serious evil。
As to men prominent in debate； allusion has already been made to
the chancellor； and various ministers of the crown might be
added； of whom I should give the foremost place to the minister
of the interior； Count Posadowski。 His discussions of all matters
touching his department； and； indeed； of some well outside it；
were masterly。 Save； perhaps； our own Senator John Sherman； I
have never heard so USEFUL a speaker on fundamental questions of
public business。 As to the representatives； there were many well
worth listening to； but the two who attracted most attention were
Richter； the head of the 〃Progressist；〃 or； as we should call it；
the radical fraction； and Bebel； the main representative of the
Socialists。 Richter I had heard more than once in my old days；
and had been impressed by his extensive knowledge of imperial
finance； his wit and humor； his skill in making his points； and
his strength in enforcing them。 He was among the few still
remaining after my long absence； and it was clear to me that he
had not deteriorated；that he had； indeed； mellowed in a way
which made him even more interesting than formerly。 As to Bebel；
though generally disappointing at first； he was quite sure； in
every speech； to raise some point which put the conservatives on
their mettle。 His strongest characteristic seems to be his
earnestness： the earnestness of a man who has himself known what
the hardest struggle for existence is； and what it means to
suffer for his opinions。 His weakest point seems to be a tendency
to exaggeration which provokes distrust； but； despite this； he
has been a potent force as an irritant in drawing attention to
the needs of the working…classes； and so in promoting that steady
uplifting of their condition and prospects which is one of the
most striking achievements of modern Germany。
Among the many other members interesting on various accounts was
one to whom both Germans and Americans might well listen with
respectHerr Theodor Barth； editor of 〃Die Nation；〃 a
representative of the best traditions of the old National Liberal
party。 He seemed to me one of the very few Germans who really
understood the United States。 He had visited America more than
once； and had remained long enough to get in touch with various
leaders of American thought； and to penetrate below the mere
surface of public affairs。 Devoted as he was to his own
fatherland； he seemed to feel intuitively the importance to both
countries of accentuating permanent points of agreement rather
than transient points of difference； hence it was that in his
paper he steadily did us justice； and in Parliament was sure to
repel any unmerited assault upon our national character and
policy。 He was clear and forcible； with； at times； a most
effectively caustic utterance against unreason。
While the whole parliamentary body is suggestive to an American；
the Parliament building is especially suggestive to a New…Yorker。
This great edifice at Berlin is considerably larger on the ground
than is the State Capitol at Albany。 It is built of a very
beautiful and durable stone； and； in spite of sundry criticisms
on the dome in the center and the pavilions at the corners； is
vastly superior； as a whole； to the Albany building。 It is
enriched in all parts； without and within； with sculpture
recalling the historical glories of all parts of the empire and
calculated to stir patriotic pride； it is beautified by paintings
on a great scale by eminent artists； its interior fittings； in
stone； marble； steel； bronze； and oak； are as beautiful and
perfect as the art of the period has been able to make them； and
the whole； despite minor architectural faults； is worthy of the
nation。 The building was completed and in use within ten years
from the time of its beginning。 The construction of the
State…house at Albany； a building not so large； and containing
to…day no work of art either in painting or sculpture worthy of
notice； has dragged along during thirty years； and cost nearly
four times as much as the Berlin edifice； the latter having
demanded an outlay of a trifle over five million dollars； and the
former considerably over twenty millions。
The German Parliament House； apart from slight defects； as a
great architectural creation is in a style worthy of its
purposea style which is preserved in all its parts； while that
at Albany is； perhaps； the most curious jumble in the whole
history of architecture；the lower stories being Palladian； the
stories above these being； if anything； Florentine； the summit
being； if anything； French Renaissance； while； as regards the
interior； the great west staircase； which is said to have cost
half a million of dollars； is in the Richardsonesque style； the
eastern staircase is in classic style； and a circular staircase
in the interior is in the most flamboyant Gothic which could be
got for money。 To be sure； there are rooms at Albany on which
precious Siena marble and Mexican onyx are lavished； but these
are used so as to produce mainly the effect of an unintelligent
desire to spend money。
While in or near the Berlin edifice there is commemoration by
sculpture or painting of a multitude of meritorious public
servants； there is nowhere in the whole building at Albany a
statue or any fit remembrance of the two greatest governors in
the history of the State； DeWitt Clinton and William H。 Seward。
The whole thing plunges one into reflection。 If that single
building at Albany； which was estimated； upon plans carefully
made by the best of architects； to cost five millions of dollars；
and to be completed in four years； required over thirty years and
an expenditure of over twenty millions； what is a great 〃barge
canal〃 to cost； running through the whole length of the State；
encountering enormo