Berlin, the Reichstag
Sänger looked over the assembled members. He saw Hugenberg sitting amids the conservatives, looking sullenly. But Sänger was not about to forgive him for the last stroke he had pulled - apparently, forgetting that the election campaign was over, Hugenberg's newspaper had made one final assault on Sänger - or rather against Natasha. The headlines of "unnatural marriage" or "class traitor" made Sänger determined to make Hugenberg suffer, and suffer he had when King Friedrich Eitel of the Netherlands and Belgium had remarked to another newspaper that some people simply did not have any Anstand at all when asked what he thought about Hugenberg.
Scheidemann had informed Sänger that although the social democrats would not vote for him personally, they would vote for the reform proposals. Müller had decided to withdraw, a move that gained him widespread respect, especially that of Sänger. Von Westarp, who was eager to punish Hugenberg who had wanted to replace him, had ensured that the conservatives had reconsidered and the national liberals had left Hugenberg's coalition when the Emperor had decided to remain neutral, but indicated that when it came to foreign policy, Sänger's views might be superior. Finally, the votes were tallied and the Reichstagspräsident announced them.
"There were 941 votes total. 429 of those declined to support any candidate and are therefore considered invalid. For the candidate Alfred Hugenberg, 97 votes were tallied. For the candidate Dr. mult. Johannes Sänger, 415 votes were tallied. In accordance with Article 15II of the Constitution of the German Empire, Dr. Sänger is herebey re-elected as Reichskanzler. Herr Kanzler, do you accept the vote?"
Sänger breathed deeply and answered, with a voice he hoped sounded firm and certain:"Herr Präsident, I hereby accept the vote and thank the members for their confidence."
After having repeated the oath of office, it was now Sänger's time to deliver his opening address, which he did after looking over the assembled guests. His Majesty the Kaiser had decided not to attend, citing ill health. However, his son, the aforementioned king and the monarchs and noble heads of states of the states of the German Empire had all come. Some were intent on currying favour, some were intent on making sure that he was not going to abolish them - which is why he had been invited to a special reception to honour him by them afterwards. Sänger had no particular desire to attend (because he knew it meant getting more medals plastered to his chest only to be never worn again), but Natasha would be there.
"Your Majesties, Excellencies, Members of the Reichstag,
this is now the third time that I have the honor of making this speech and never before have I been prouder. With this vote, the citizens of this empire have decided against taking a step backwards, but have decided to take a leap of faith instead. Faith that the new reforms will not weaken, but strengthen us. Faith that the German Empire will not return to a state of isolation, but that it will face the challenges head-on and prevail. Faith in our Emperor, long may he reign and faith in me to lead Germany into this golden age.
In this empire we find the descendants of many a proud people - the disciplined Prussians, the backbone of the empire. The Italians, which every civilized people owes a debt. The Austrians and Hungarians, who kept western Europe safe from slaves and greeks alike. The Danes, descended from the haughty seafarers of old. The Dutch, whose skill with a ship can hardly be surpassed. The proud hanseatic cities, bastions of independence and equality. Out of many, we forge a Union that shall never be broken.
Today, this Union stands stronger than before. We have secured our western and southern borders. We have signed treaties with the French, the Italians and the Agean Powers. We shall not risk them. Germany will honour her treaties."
Sänger paused, noticing the majority of the delegates clapping, with the exceptions of the conservatives. Thinking that they would like the next segment, he continued.
"As a sign that all Germans shall have the same chance and representation, I shall hold an informal meeting every wednesday night with the important members of all parties, whetehr they are members of my cabinet or not."
This took the audience by surprise, but they quickly applauded this move as well.
"Sadly, recently one nation has decided to threaten the German Empire. One nation has had an election that was filled with rampant anti-Germanic propaganda. One nation has decided to spit on the spirit of a non-aggression pact that we offered to them. In effect, this nation has decided to spurn the hand of friendship. We have further received reports that this nation is in fact preparing a massive fleet with which to threaten our shores.
But you need not fear, my countrymen, for the Emperor stands watch. The Emperor knows full well the value of seapower. And in his name I hereby make this promise - we shall not falter. We shall not be encircled, and we shall not be blockaded. As a preparation and to restore equality among the waves, I shall submit to the Reichstag a supplementary naval bill, asking for at least two further battlecruisers."
Sänger smiled as the socialists had stopped clapping, while the conservatives clapped more enthusiastically than before - joined by the national liberals.
"But the Emperor also believes that battle is not something which should be entered lightly. For that matter, the German Empire extends a renewed hand of friendship to the nation of Britain. I therefore vow that no later than June I shall visit the British Isles to discuss about our misunderstandings beforehand. I am sure that no party has a wish to go back to the arms race of the beginning of the century. I promise that I shall do everything in my power to avoid a war. I hereby invite the British empire to enter into a new, golden age of prosperity, together with the German Empire."
Widespread applause.
"But tougher than the challenges of war are the challenges of peace. For there are a great many challenges ahead. We have, through great expense, rebuilt and modernised the war-torn regions of Austria, Hungary and Northern Italy. Some question the worth of such an investment. To those I say - you either have never been there or you are blind."
Laughter on the left side and from the Austrian, Hungarian and Italian members. Hugenberg's face quickly changed to a shade of red.
"It is now up to us to bring these same comforts to our citizens of the Kingdoms of Belgium and The Netherlands. We shall not waver in this, the most noble and righteous of our commitments. For every citizen of the empire deserves the same rights and comforts."
Sänger paused once more, noticing the crown prince Friedrich Eitel clapping along with the Dutch and Belgium delegates.
"Every citizen deserves the same rights and comforts. To that matter, I have proposed legislation which shall be the first order of the day. Some have thought it to be an evil communist plot to destroy the fabric of society. Those people need not fair. I am neither a jacobite nor a radical. Instead, I shall note that the nations in which people receive basic rights and the same chances are the most prosperous ones on Earth. One just needs to look at the example of the French, of Cascadia and - dare I say it - Britain. This is not just a matter of belief, it is also a matter of political reality. We shall not fall behind. Instead, we must take charge. As chancellor, I give you my word - if you do not think that Germany is a better nation in four years, then feel free to dismiss me."
Applause. Sänger waited a moment for it to quiet down, then continued:
"Frederick the Great changed the outlook of Germany on a scale I cannot hope to match. So did Bismarck. I shall not endeavour to follow these great men, for I know I am not as gifted as they were. I shall instead endeavour to do my duty to god, country and our beloved Emperor, long may he live. Your majesties, excellencies, members of the Reichstag - thank you for your time."
After enjoying the ovation, Sänger crossed the floor to the SPD and shook hands with both Müller and Scheidemann. Then, he crossed the floor again to the conservatives and shook hands with von Westarp, who would become finance minister. Then he took a chance and offered his hand to Hugenberg, quietly saying: "I hope you will come to the meeting as well."
Hugenberg eyed the hand suspiciously, then stood and almost crushed the Chancellors hand in his huge paw. "I shall attend." Sänger smiled and leaned forward. "Good."
Then his voice dropped to a whisper: "If you ever print anything untrue about the Countess Volkonskaya again, I will have you destroyed. Are we clear?" Releasing the hand of Hugenberg, he then turned to march back to his chair, all the while enjoying the applause of the chamber.
Soon, his reform proposal was brought to the table.
"The Reichstag will now consider a change to the Constitution of the German Empire. The proposal would insert the following basic rights into the constitution:
I. BASIC RIGHTS AND PRINCIPLES
Article 1. Protection of human dignity
(1) The dignity of man is inviolable. To respect and protect it is the duty of all state authority. The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community.
(3) The German Empire is a constitutional Monarchy and a Federal state.
(4) Legislation is subject to the constitutional order; the executive and the judiciary are bound by the law.
(5) All Germans shall have the right to resist any person seeking to abolish this constitutional order, should no other remedy be possible.
(6) The following basic rights bind the legislature, the executive and the judiciary as directly enforceable law.
Article 2. Rights of liberty
( 1 ) Everyone has the right to the free development of his personality insofar as he does not violate the rights of others or offend against the constitutional order or the moral code.
( 2 ) Everyone has the right to life and to inviolability of his person. The freedom of the individual is inviolable. These rights may only be encroached upon pursuant to a law.
Article 3. Equality before the law
( 1 ) All persons are equal before the law.
( 2 ) Men and women have equal rights. The state supports actual accomplishment of the equalization in rights of women and men and effects the removal of existant disadvantages
( 3 ) No one may be prejudiced or favored because of his sex, his parentage, his race, his language, his homeland and origin, his faith or his religious or political opinions.
Article 4. Freedom of faith, of conscience and of creed
( 1 ) Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom of creed religious or ideological, are inviolable.
( 2 ) The undisturbed practice of religion is guaranteed
( 3 ) If the practice of religion serves to disrupt peace and order, it may be curtailed. Details will be regulated by a Federal law.
Article 5. Freedom of expression
( 1 ) Everyone has the right freely to express and to disseminate his opinion by speech, writing and pictures and freely to inform himself from generally accessible sources. There shall be no censorship except in time of war.
( 2 ) These rights are limited by the provisions of the general laws, the provisions of law for the protection of youth and by the right to inviolability of personal honor.
( 3 ) Art and science, research and teaching are free. Freedom of teaching does not absolve from loyalty to the constitution.
Article 6. Rights of the Family
( 1 ) Marriage and family enjoy the special protection of the state.
( 2 ) Care and upbringing of children are the natural right of the parents and a duty primarily incumbent on them. The state watches over the performance of this duty.
( 3 ) Separation of children from the family against the will of the persons entitled to bring them up may take place only pursuant to a law, if those so entitled fail in their duty or if the children are otherwise threatened with neglect.
( 4 ) Illegitimate children shall be provided by legislation with the same opportunities for their physical and spiritual development and their position in society as are enjoyed by legitimate children.
Article 7. (Education).
(1) The entire education system is under the supervision of the state.
(2) The persons entitled to bring up a child have the right to decide whether they shall receive religious instruction.
(3) Religious instruction forms part of the ordinary curriculum in state and municipal schools, excepting secular schools. Without prejudice to the state's right of supervision, religious instruction is given in accordance with the tenets of the religious communities. No teacher may be obliged against his will to give religious instruction.
(4) The right to establish private schools is guaranteed. Private schools require the approval of the state and are subject to the laws of the Laender.
Article 8 (Freedom of assembly).
(1) All Germans have the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed without prior notification or permission.
(2) With regard to open-air meetings this right is restricted by law.
Article 9 (Freedom of association).
(1) All Germans have the right to form associations and societies.
(2) Associations, the objects or activities of which conflict with the criminal laws or which are directed against the constitutional order or the concept of international understanding, are prohibited.
Article 10 (Privacy of letters and posts).
(1) Privacy of letters and posts shall be inviolable except in times of war.
(2) Restrictions may only be ordered pursuant to a statute. Where a restriction serves to protect the basic order or the existence or security of the Empire, the statute may stipulate that the person affected shall not be informed of such restriction and that recourse to the courts shall be replaced by a review of the case by bodies and auxiliary bodies appointed by the Reichstag.
Article 11 (Freedom of movement).
(1) All Germans enjoy freedom of movement throughout the territory of the German Empire.
(2) This right may be restricted only by or pursuant to a statute, and only in cases in which an adequate basis of existence is lacking and special burdens would arise to the community, or in which the restriction is necessary to avert an imminent danger to the existence or the free democratic basic order of the Federation or a Land, to combat the danger of epidemics, to deal with natural disasters or particularly grave accidents, to protect young people from neglect or to prevent crime.
Article 12 (Right to choose an occupation)
(1) All Germans have the right freely to choose their trade or profession their place of work and their place of training. The practice of trades and professions may be regulated by law.
(2) No one may be compelled to perform a particular work except within the framework of a traditional compulsory public service which applies generally and equally to all.
(3) Women shall not be required by law to render service in any unit of the Armed Forces. On no account shall they be employed in any service involving the use of arms.
(4) Forced labor may be imposed only in the event that a person is deprived of his freedom by the sentence of a court.
(5) Men who have attained the age of 18 years may be required to serve in the Armed Forces or in a civil defense organization.
(6) Where, during a state of defense, civilian service requirements in the civilian health system or in the stationary military hospital organization cannot be met on a voluntary basis, women between eighteen and fity-five years of age may be assigned to such services by or pursuant to a statute. They may on no account render service involving the use of arms.
Article 13 (Inviolability of the home).
(1) The home is inviolable.
(2) Searches may be ordered only by a judge or, in the event of danger in delay, by other organs as provided by law and may be carried out only in the form prescribed by law.
(3) Otherwise, this inviolability may be encroached upon or restricted only to avert a common danger or a mortal danger to individuals, or, pursuant to a law, to prevent imminent danger to public security and order, especially to alleviate the housing shortage, to combat the danger of epidemics or to protect endangered juveniles.
Article 14 (Property, right of inheritance, taking of property).
(1) Property and the rights of inheritance are guaranteed. Their content and limits are determined by the laws.
(2) Property imposes duties. Its use should also serve the public wealth.
(3) Expropriation is permitted only in the public wealth. It may take place only by or pursuant to law which provides for kind and extent of the compensation. The compensation shall be determined upon just consideration of the public interest and of the interests of the persons affected.
(4) In the case of wartime, no such expropriation may be prevented by a court. Compensation shall be given after the cessation of hostilities.
(5) In case of dispute regarding the amount of compensation, recourse may be had to the courts.
Article 15 (Deprivation of citizenship, extradition).
(1) No one may be deprived of his German citizenship. Loss of citizenship may arise only pursuant to a law, and against the will of the person affected it may arise only if such person does not thereby become stateless.
(2) No German may be extradited to a foreign country.
Article 16 (Right of petition).
Everyone has the right individually or jointly with others to address written requests or complaints to the competent authorities and to the representative assemblies.
Article 17 (Forfeiture of basic rights).
Whoever abuses freedom of opinion, in particular freedom of the press (Article 5, paragraph 1) freedom of teaching (Article 5, paragraph 3), freedom of assembly (Article 8), freedom of association (Article 9), the secrecy of mail posts (Article 10),property (Article 14), in order to attack the basic order, forfeits these basic rights. The forfeiture and its extent are pronounced by the Reichsgericht.
Article 18 (Restriction of Basic Rights).
(1) Insofar as under this Basic Law a basic right may be restricted by or pursuant to a law, the law must apply generally and not solely to an individual case. Furthermore the law must name the basic right, indicating the Article.
(2) In no case may a basic right be infringed upon in its essential content.
(3) The basic rights apply also to corporations established under German Public law to the extent that the nature of such rights permits.
(4) Should any person's right be violated by public authority, recourse to the court shall be open to him. If no other court has jurisdiction, recourse shall be to the ordinary courts.
That evening, newspapers in Germany and around the world went nuts.
Berliner Zeitung
Landmark reform bill passed
The cornerstone of Reichkanzler Sängers reform policy was passed by the Reichstag today in a landslide 623 to 318 votes. Leaders of all factions released their members to vote as their conscience dictated. The bill, which was also the reason behind the elections, is expected to transform Germany into the most modern state in the world.....
British insult the Emperor
Our beloved sovereign, Emperor Wilhelm II., Deutscher Kaiser, König von Preußen, Reichsverweser von Österreich und Ungarn etc., was heavily insulted by a british envoy. According to palace sources, the visit caused the emperor so much distress that he had to cancel his planned attendance at the Chancellor's acceptance speech.
Editorial: Have the british no honour?
One has to wonder if the famous british tact and eloquence has gone on a long-extended vacation. For the recent british attack on the health of our beloved sovereign leaves one to wonder what in earth could have possessed the british envoy to badger a man who has never recovered from the Vienna masacre, in which he suffered chest, leg and arm injuries. Now the british conduct has poured salt on those wounds. Our Emperor dearly loves the British people, but his outstretched hand has been bitten at every turn. It makes one wonder whether the Reichskanzler still has the right way to deal with the British. It certainly casts a shadow on his announcement that he would proceed with a new rapproachment policy despite recent anti-german rhetoric being spewed in the House of Parliament...
Reichskanzler Sänger honoured
Reichskanzler Sänger was honoured at a meeting with several noble houses of Germany. In this private meeting, the Chancellor took the time to explain his policies over the course of four hours and to address any concerns put forward by the aristocrats. At the end of the meeting, the aristocrats expressed their confidence in the Chancellor and noted that he was "more of a Stein than a Marx". The chancellor, who attended the meeting with his betrothed Countess Volkonskaya and her father, the count Volkonsky, was also honored with the Großkreuz des Orden Berthold des Ersten by the Prince of Baden, the Kollane of the Hausorden vom Goldenen Löwen (Hessen), the Kette und Großehrenkreuz (1. Klasse) zum Leopold-Orden (Lippe) and the Großkreuz des Albrechts Orden (Saxony). As is his custom, the Chancellor accepted the honours, but declined to wear them.
Results:
- Sänger is reelected
- major reform bill is passed (OOC: Apologies to the Grundgesetz)
- the Emperor, the chancellor and the German public are mightily displeased with the British
- nevertheless, Sänger will attempt to visit Britain in order to talk about the differences. Officail note pertaining to that to be sent after the naval review, for now it is just a plan.
