The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1874-09-12 00:00:00

_

THE SEDAN ANNIVERSARY IN

GERMANY.

The Prussian Correspondent of The Times writing upon
the subject of the anniversary, says :
- • •

"The official Provincial Correspondence this corm
memorates the day of Sedan :
" For the first time She anniversary of Sedan has been
kept no generally, so soleninks, and so impressively as to
assume the character of a national holyday. The objection
recently made to the anniversary under the pretext of reli-
gious scruples has evidently only contributed to strengthen
patriotism in all classes, suit not the least so among those
whom it was intended especially to net against the observance
of the day. The last few days have established the gratifying
fact that the German nation will not allow the memory of the
late important events to be diinined by the quarrel tempo-
rarily agitated in their midst. The news pouring in from all
parts of the German Empire strikingly con tradicts t he assertion
(advanced by the Bishop of Mayence) that the day of Sedan is
kept by one political party alone. Such a Sedan anniversary
as we have Just witnessed is the best proof that the whole
nation agrees in marking with festive seal the advent of
unity and the re-establishment of that independence and
strength which are based upon unity. All preparations for
the observance of the day were spontaneous, the Emperor
having three years ago intimated it as his wish that the
Government sismitt not interfere with the voluntary exer-
tiOns of the public to renew the memory of the war.
With the reestablishment td the German Empire
the people hove chosen to mark this epoch in their
history, and the day of Sedan, it is to be foreseen, will
with every year hear more undeniably the impress of a
national lo.lyday. Unity having been the one thing celebrated
on this last anniversary of Sedan, notwithstanding the oppo-
sition raised, it w.ss only natural that the speeches delivered
and the whole attitude of the public evidenced the conviction
that all domestic strife calculated to aggravate existing
animosities should be kept under proper restraint by
patriotism. Indeed, the day of Sedan would not have been
properly kept bad it not raised the heartfelt wish that the
serious discord recently kindled in our midst should be
allayed by all being alike ready to recognize the superior
Importance of patriotic sentiment and action.
"The reports of the festivities 'are perfectly over-
powering from their enthusiasm and multitude.
Not to speak of Berlin, where the foundation of a
new war monument was laid, and a hundred different
fetes were held, all the larger towns vied with each
other in observing the anniversary. A Hot of the
principal demonstrations will riot be out of place as
Fearing political importance. In Prussia Proper,
Konigsberg unveiled a monument of Queen Louisa,
the mother of his reigning Majesty, who in
the beginning of this century spent anxious years
In that town, whither she had fled from the vic-
torious armies of Napoleon I. None of the in-
habitants who could go were absent from the
ceremony. At Stettin and Breslau patriotic gather-
ings and concerts were held in many yrivate esta-
blishments, the latter town being specially remark-
able for the cordial participation of the Catholic clergy
in the festivities. Similar conduct was observed by the
priests in most parts of Silesia. At Posen the national
quarrel between Pole and German again proved more
deeply rooted than the ecclesiastical controversy between
Church and State. The German Catholic priests, fol-
lowing the example of the German Protestant clergy-
men in several churches, celebrated Divine service in
honour of the day, while the Poles' both priests
and laity, kept aloof, and even attempted to in-
terfere with the procession of the German Guilds.
Magdeburg had a solemn meeting in the market-
place, where a speech was delivered by the Mayor.
In the annexed Provinces of Prussia, the citizens of
Hanover, the moot rapidly increasing town in Ger-
many since it ceased to be the residence of a King and
became the abode of industry, went in procession to
Waterloo-square, where an immense bonfire was
lighted. The enthusiasm is stated to have been so
general that the Farticularists, of whom there are
still plenty in the town, dared not show their faces.
At Cassel a grand procession was made to the well-
known square, which is the finest in Europe, and
there was speechifying, music, and torchlight
at night. Even at little Fulda the grumblings
of the Episcopal Chapter were overpowered by
public feeling, though the municipal authorities,
siding with the malcontent priests, refused to join.
All along the Rhine the larger cities resounded with
holyday tumult ; of the smaller onus, many were
too much under clerical control to follow suit.
Cologne had an imposing assembly at the ancient
Town-hall with speeches and choral music; Divine
service in the Protestant and one Catholic church, with
a torchlight procession and illuminations likewise testi-
fied to the loyal sentiments of the capital of Rhineland.
Even at Ultramontane Mayence, where the rash Bishop
had cautioned his flock against participation in the
Jubilee, the festivities in the scholls and concert gar-
dens were well attended. The four South German
capitals, Munich, Darmstadt, Carlsruhe, and Stuttgart,
had processions, in which the principal state dignitaries
and Generals were seen walking side by side with the
most respectable citizens, followed by thousands of
the inhabitants. At Munich a monument in honour
of the fallen warriors of 1870 was inaugurated.
Torchlight demonstrations, bonfires, anti grand poli-
tical meetings, at which the leaders of the Liberal
party addressed their townsmen, are reported from all
four places. It is hardly necessary to say that Cen-
tral Germany, where the Unity feeling is perhaps
stronger than anywhere else, did not remain behind-
hand. Dresden, Weimar, Gotha, Meiningen, Jena,
and Eisenach are mentioned for special displays, the
various local Sovereigns gracing the celebrations with
their presence. Bremen, too, seems to have particu-
larly distinguished itself; while the Mecklenburgers,
the special countrymen of Blucher and Moltke, could
not fail to do thew best in a grave and quiet way after
their wont. It is very remarkable that of the many
speeches reported in the papers there is hardly one
where the name of France is mentioned with anything
like animosity. Obviously it was an anniversary not
to commemorate victory, but Unity, the result of
victory. The want of unanimity displayed by the
Catholic clergy on this occasion elicits much com-
ment. While the Bishop of Passau eagerly espoused
the opposite side, the Bishop of Dresden went the
length of officiating personally at a special service.
Most of the Bishops refrained from uttering any
opinion on the subject, leaving their diocesan clergy to
act as they pleased. You are aware how the Grand
Duke of Hesse has promptly answered the Mayence
prelate by consenting that a copy of the Prussian
Ecclesiastical Laws be laid before his State Parlia-
ment. So the ardent Kettler has a fair chance of losing
his see before long. Prussia, on her part, resents the
latest behaviour of her Polish clergy by expelling all
foreign monks and nuns from the Posen convents. In
Alsace and Lorraine the German immigrants kept the
day within closed doors, so as not to offend the feelings
of the rest of the population."

The official Prarincial Correxpondence contains a re.
inarkable communlyta

" The day of the confirmation of Prince Frederick Wit-
ham was one of solemn import Prince Frederick William,
he eldest son of the Crown Prince and the Crown Princeas,
by renewing the vows made at his baptism, has beimme
responsible member of the Evangelical Church When his
Royal parents, the day after the christening of the Prince,
publicly thanked the country for the many signs of hearty
sympathy given them on the birth if their eldest son,
these were the closing words of the address—. We pray God
to assist us to rear our son in such wise as that he may
promote the honour and welfare of the country.. The sym-
pathy for which the Royal couple then thanked the nation
has been increased by the memorable events of our recent
history, in which the Crown Prince took such a prominent
part. Not only Prussia but all Germany this day congra-
tulates the Dynasty with whose welfare and prosperity the
destinies of the entire nation are now so intimately bound.
Prince Frederick William isnot the heir of Prussia alone ; he
la likewise the successor to the imperial dignity of Germany,
and the hopes cherished at his birth in this kingdom only now
extend to all Germany. With the increasing greatness of his
destiny, the education of the Crown Prince has become a
more difficult tank. The instruction which he has hitherto
received, being mainly intended to ground him in general
knowledge and inculcate the leading principles of religion,
must have been the same, be the circumstances what they
might. The unceasing solicitude of his parents, their pure
and perfect life, and the earnest, unpretending spirit per-
vading their household, are the best guarantee that the
foundation of the Prince's education has been laid under the
most favourable auspices. Confirmation marks a period in
his life. Religion is the loftiest sphere of intellectual life.
and, in accepting the Evangelical faith with full knowledge
of the responsibility attaching to the act, the Prince deliber-
ately adopts the principles which are to guide all his thoughts
and actions. From what has transpired respecting the senti-
ments uttered by the Prince at the ceremony we may conclude
that the religious instruction imparted bad for its chief object
the giving him that moral earnestness, firmness, and confi-
dence which he so much needs for his difficult calling in life,
and which he can only hope to derive from sincere faith and a
thorough reliance on the strong arm of the Almighty. The
first political impressions of the Prince were received at a
time when the favour of the Almighty was wonderfully
and visibly demonstrated in the history of our country and
Dynasty. The impressions of those great and glorious
times cannot but have produced a powerful effect upon the
youthful ',Hind of the Prince, and will have taught him the
truth that there is but one source of wisdom, strength,
and success in the world. May he live to praise Almighty
God for no many favours, as we do this clay in joyful grati-
tude.'