The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1870-07-30 00:00:00

THE KING OF PRUSSIA'S PROCLAMATION.

The following Proclamation was published in the
Prussian &tugs Anztiger of the 21st inst. :

"I am compelled to draw the sword to ward off a wanton
attack, with all the force. at Germany's disposal It in a
great consolation to me before God and men that I have in no
way given a pretext for it. My conscience acquits me of
having provoked this war, and lam certain of the righteous
-
one of our cause in the tight of God. The struggle before us
is serious, and it will demand heavy sacrifices from my
people and from all Germany. But I go forth to it looking
to the ontnisrl,nt God and imploring Ws Almighty
support. I have already cause to thank God that
on the first news of the war one only feeling animated all
German hearts, and proclaimed aloud the in iignation tenet
the attack, and the joyful confidence that G al will bestow
victory on the righteous cause. My people will also stand by
Inc In this struggle as they stood by my father, who now
Tests with God. They will, with me, make all sacrifices to
conquer peace again for the nations From my youth up-
wards I have learnt to 'tame° that all depend, upon the help
of a gracious God. In Him is my trust, and I tag my
people to rest in the some ataurance I bow myself
before God in acknowledgment of His mercy, and
I am sure that my subj-cts and fellow-country.
men do so with nte. 'fbeielore I decree that Wednes-
day the 47th nt July, shall be net apart for an extraor..l-
-nary aolemn day of prayer and Dlrne service in all our
Churches, with abstention from all public ocoGutions and
lab or so far as may coniport with tile pressing necessities
of this time. 1 aloe decree that while the war lsets prayers
shall be offered in all Divine service., that in this struggle
God may lead us to victory, that Ile may give us grace to
bear ourselves as Christian men even 11050 our enemies, and
that it may please Him to allow unto obtain a lasting peace,
founded on the honour and independence of Germany.
,Signed,
" V 024 MLIILEI4.

" Berlin, July 21."

The Daily Telt-graph, in notWng the above, re.
marks :--

History show, beyond dispute, that those have fought best
who prayed first. 110 w t rephatically are we assured that, on
the field of flutings, the SAXOIIII spent the eve of the battle
Lu drinking and revelling, while the Normans paued it In
services of devotion and hymne. At Bannockburn, E lward .
II saw the Scotch kneel down upon the sward, and said,
d They situ, for mercy." "My Liege" was the answer, "these
wen ask mercy from God Almighty ; they will cong/ler or die
upon the Cell.' Look, again, at the Donald. of Cromwell.
The world has hardly twice seen such fighting stra as the
men who swept the scented and ringleted cavaliers off the
ground at Naseby, Marston Moor, and Worcester. They
were " mighty at prayer," and rode Into action singing a
plain song, or a psalm, amid the langhter of their firemen—
laughter which was however, very soon turned into grief
when the broadswords of the " psalm..tniters " began to
Bash. Or, for a case more In point, take German history.
The battle of I Utzrot was opened by Gustavus Adolphus at
the head of his Swedes and Germans, as if it had Ireen
pOturch.sPrvice rather clan a sanguinary engagement. With
Idle and Wallensteln against hint, the Lutheran commander
pqd gain,,d victory after victory, and came to this, his last
field, the annalists say, "full of heavenly fierceness." The
musicians of his army played together the apirtt-stlrring
notes of Luther's Hymn, and while the massive nursed
music rriled reat (lAD the November air, the troops ea: g
aloud, "Eine fedte Bury lit unser Gott," the King him,elf
giving out each verse, like a Precentor and Paladin in one.
Does anytody ask what followed? The imagination would PO.
pcipate, even if the memory were unaware, that, despite the
eesth of the gallant King, his army had marched to
blu,,...rph ankle-deep in the blood of their foes, and that
St 10143030 in himself had to fly before the face of those
terrible Latherans. It is a Liel.eran nationality again
that today la singing the 0.,1 battlesong of Luther in the
churches rind Patach..grounds of Germany. Now we Fee Puri-
tan against Catholic. Teuton against Celt—a "people'. army,"
as the Prussians juicily 0,11 their Lan.twehr, against Imperi .1
forces—and, finally, pray 11.1; people agalut a people danctig
at Habilleand joklng or, the Boulevards. It the student of
history had to prophesy between two such peoples, race, re•
Baton, organisation, and national character would aid him to
understand why the Emperor Napoleon does not share th
hilarity of lii, sublects as to the issue of this terrible corilict.