Another reason against the direct annexation of foreign countries lay in the Constitution of the Empire; it would have been easier to annex fresh land to Prussia; this could have been done by the authority of the King; there was, however, no provision by which the Bundesrath could undertake this responsibility, and it probably could not be done even with the assent of the Reichstag unless some change were made in the Constitution.

It was, however, essential that the new acquisitions should be German and not Prussian.
All these changes were not introduced without much opposition; the Progressives especially distinguished themselves by their prolonged refusal to assent even to the subsidies for German lines of steamers.

In the Parliament of 1884 they were enabled often to throw out the Government proposals.

It was at this time that the conflict between Bismarck and Richter reached its height.

He complained, and justly complained, that the policy of the Progressives was then, as always, negative.