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Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 September 2013
Why should legislative proceedings in the grand duchy of Luxemburg be given consideration? It is a country with an area less than that of Rhode Island and with a population (260,000) which would barely fill a second class city—a mere atom in the world's history. Nor has it played an heroic part in the great crisis. Here is the excuse. The discussions in the chamber of deputies have reflected, not in their depths but in their shallows, nearly all the phases of the seething unrest which agitates larger nations, and therein lies the reason for offering a few pictures drawn from the official records of the grand ducal chamber— the German reports as they are sent out daily, translated from the proceedings in French, and the final French comptes-rendus. They are miniatures of the processes of readjustment in progress across the Atlantic.
The Luxemburg chamber of deputies is a legislative body that has been evolved by a series of still visible leaps and jumps from the simplest feudal conditions to the assembly recently elected by universal adult suffrage on a basis of proportional party representation according to the system of the scrutin de liste. Its modernity is so complete that a Socialist woman has obtained a seat, yet the conservative character of the forbears of the body is not entirely lost to view in the mists of the past.
The old duchy of Luxemburg—a countship until raised to higher dignity by an imperial brother of its count (1354)—lost its early independence in the fifteenth century (1441), and thenceforth shared the political lot of the Belgic provinces under Burgundian, Spanish and Austrian rule.
1 The official language is French but German is allowed. The reports (die Kammerberichte) in German were formerly distributed gratis. There is now a charge of two francs.
2 After the union with the Belgic provinces, Luxemburg was also entitled to send delegates to the States General of the Netherlands, but the autonomy of the local estates was still maintained. The tenth penny was never imposed.
3 The figures are taken from La Patrie Luxemburg, Paris, Aug. 15, 1918.
4 There were many broadsides issued by the various groups, each proclaiming itself the real type of patriot, able to save the country. The following was addressed to the people in the north by two deputies who had recently separated themselves from the Catholic party:
Appeal to the people of the Oesling
“Our volunteers have mutinied and ranged themselves in the service of the Revolution. Decorated with red emblems they march through the city, stir up the population and attempt to occupy the public buildings. Yesterday afternoon they seized the issue of Luxemburg Wort at the station and burned it all in public places. We learn from reliable sources that the Clerfer Zeitung is to suffer the same fate.
“Our army does not consist of the entire armed population as is the case in other lands, but of 150 twenty-year old youths who have volunteered in the hope of getting good public positions later.
“Oeslingers!
“Will you let these 150 green boys suppress and rob you of your civil rights? Under no condition! We must meet force with force! Chase these rebels in uniform out of your frontier villages. Take away their uniforms and arms, for they are misusing them to rob peaceful citizens of their rights and to drag the state into misfortune! Farmers, workmen, and citizens of the Oesling be ready to hasten to the capital at the first call and help law and order prevail. Meanwhile organize in your villages and suffer no fire brand in your ranks. Down with the red Revolution at whose head stands Michel Welter, Oesling's foe. Long live Luxemburg, free and independent!”
Th. Boever. P. Prum.
January 9. “Independent Oesling Deputies.”
5 The vote on the internal government was as follows:
For retention of the Grand Duchess Charlotte 66,811
For retention of the dynasty with another grand duchess 1,286
For introduction of another dynasty 889
For a republican régime 16,885
Blank and invalid ballots 5,113
On the question of economic union:
Union with France 60,135
Union with Belgium 22,242
Blank and invalid ballots 8,607
6 In addition to the official reports of the chamber of deputies the authorities used are: Eyschen, Paul. Das staatsrecht des grossherzogthums Luxemburg, Tübingen. 1917Google Scholar; Ruppert, P.Code politique et administrative du grand-duché de Luxembourg. 1907Google Scholar; Fruin, Robert, De zeventien provincien en haar vertegenwoordigen in de staten-generaal. 1903.Google Scholar
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