Bismarck’s Speech in the North German Reichstag in Defense of his Draft Constitution (March 11, 1867)

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(Quite right!)

[ . . . ]

Further, in connection with the question of power, I hold the unification of north and south Germany to be definitively secured against every attack in all matters where the security of German soil is concerned. In the south there can be no doubt that should its integrity be endangered, north Germany will unconditionally render it fraternal assistance,

(Energetic bravo!)

and in the north there is no doubt that we are completely certain of the assistance of south Germany against every attack that would be made upon us.

(Bravo!)

[ . . . ]

Gentlemen! Let us work quickly! Put Germany, as it were, in the saddle! It will certainly be able to ride.

(Energetic applause.)



Source of English translation: “Otto von Bismarck, Speech on the Constitution of the North German Confederation (March 11, 1867), translated by Paul Silverman, in Jan Goldstein and John W. Boyer, eds, University of Chicago, Readings in Western Civilization, vol. 8, Nineteenth-Century Europe: Liberalism and Its Critics. Chicago, London, 1988, pp. 411-19.

Original German text printed in Stenographische Berichte über die Verhandlungen des Reichstages des Norddeutschen Bundes im Jahre 1867 [Stenographic Reports of the Proceedings of the Reichstag of the North German Confederation in the Year 1867]. Berlin: publisher of the printing office of the “Norddeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung,” 1867, vol. 1, 10th meeting, March 11, 1867, pp. 135-39.