He immediately had his reward.

The Liberal party, which had hitherto opposed him, broke into two portions.

The extreme Radicals and Progressives still continued their opposition; the majority of the party formed themselves into a new organisation, to which they gave the name of National Liberals.

They pledged themselves to support the National and German policy of the Government, while they undertook, so far as they were able, to maintain and strengthen the constitutional rights of Parliament.

By this Bismarck had a Parliamentary majority, and he more and more depended upon them rather than his old friends, the Conservatives.