Even in the hostile Reichstag of 1884, in which the Socialists, Clericals, and Progressives together commanded a majority, a series of important laws were passed.

Once, indeed, the majority in opposition to the Government went beyond the limits of reason and honour when they refused a vote of L1000 for an additional director in the Foreign Office.

It was the expression of a jealousy which had no justification in facts; at the time the German Foreign Office was the best managed department in Europe; the labour imposed on the secretaries was excessive, and the nation could not help contrasting this vote with the fact that shortly before a large number of the members had voted that payments should be made to themselves.

The nation could not help asking whether it would not gain more benefit from another L1000 a year expended on the Foreign Office than from L50,000 a year for payment of members.

Even this unfortunate action was remedied a few months later, when the vote was passed in the same Parliament by a majority of twenty.
Notwithstanding all their internal differences and the extreme party spirit which often prevailed, the Reichstag always shewed determination in defending its own privileges.