united all Germany into an empire and made Prussia its head, (1871). The southern states like Bavaria still silently resent their subordination to Prussia; the northern states like Hanover resent still more their annexation into Prussia. But nevertheless all the states feel that union gives them strength. Even in Hanover, which was annexed by Prussia in 1866, and which has therefore lost all autonomy as a separate State in the Empire, the national feeling is for the union rather than against it. Hanoverian Deputies in the Imperial Parliament often co-operate with the socialists to try and thwart Bismark; but the opposition loses force year after year.
"We were dreamers before," as a Hanoverian told me, "we are trying to be practical men now." There is more truth in this than one would suppose. The Germans though among the bravest nations of Europe have ever been somewhat of dreamers! With their matchless and ancient wealth of intellect they were wanting in the vigour of youthful political life. Prussia which formed itself into a kingdom in recent times exactly supplies this want. The Prussian Germans whose history during the last 200 years has been a history of vigorous struggles and unscrupulous annexations were exactly the people who could cement the scattered German races together with their young energy and vigour, into one great Empire. Germany represents the intellect, and Prussia the will of that great Empire. Goethe and Schiller, Kant and Hegel, and the two Humboldts were true born Germans. But the rough strong men who since the time of Frederick the Great downwards have by hard continuous strokes
