It was a good sign for the future that the new State held together as firmly as any old-established monarchy, and that the most important questions of policy could be discussed and decided without even raising any point which might be a danger to the permanence of the Empire.
Bismarck himself did much to put his relations with the Parliament on a new and better footing.

Acting according to his general principle, he felt that the first thing to be done was to induce mutual confidence by unrestrained personal intercourse.

The fact that he himself was not a member of the Parliament deprived him of those opportunities which an English Minister enjoys.

He therefore instituted, in 1868, a Parliamentary reception.

During the session, generally one day each week, his house was opened to all members of the House.