The Sun.
London, England, 1863-10-06 00:00:00

THE ELECTIONS IN PRUSSIA.

The following passage from the recent Circular of
Count Eulenburg respecting the approaching elec-
tions will give some notion of the extraordinary
ideas prevalent in high quarters in Prussia as to the
duty of Government officials :
"Especial attention is to be
iv
offi-
cials whose position with respectgtoetn t
the local hoctaloosffie
officials
under them, or to the publiicecotmhiem x
coming in contact
with them, is of a nature to give
influence. You yourself, Mr. President,
ownPresid positionknowent, is
of
.
what political importance your
The beneficial power of a Government body cannot
possibly be exercised if its President entertains a
political idea which differs from that of the Govern-
ment, either actively or passively, and opposes the
measures of Government, instead of taking care to
secure for them a complete execution. It is the
same case with the Landraths. The Government
cannot permit that a Landrath should employ his
influence against the Government, and by his atti-
tude deceive the inhabitants as to the King and his
Government. A district secretary is also not to be
tolerated who, forgetful of his duty as a Royal
official, makes known and seeks to disseminate, in
his daily intercourse with the population, opinions
hostile to the Government: These are merely ex-
amples that I cite. I leave it to yourselves to
judge of what great importance it is to again restore
in official circles the consciousness of the wide
extent of the obligations which are assumed on
entering the Royal service, and without
delay so to act that no doubt can arise with
the Government as to the reliability of the officials
of certain, and in this respect important, categories.
This doubt, however, must arise in cases where—
the Government relying, and being compelled to
rely, on the entire devotion and co-operation of their
organs—these officials maintain a passive position,
and thereby contribute to the success of the oppo-
nents of the Government. He who has sworn as an
official ' to be submissive, faithful, and obedient to
the King his most gracious Sovereign,'is not relieved
from this oath, either as elector or elected; and when
his Majesty traces out the determined constitutional
path in which his officials are to accompany him, all
are bound to comply. But they who, by the King's
favour and special confidence, have been appointed
to places of political importance, are bound besides
to give their energetic support to the King's Go-
vernment. That you will yourself act in this sense,
I suppose. Make the officials of the administration
of your district thoroughly understand that the
Royal Government expects and requires from them
during the opproaching elections such conduct as
befits faithful Royal officials. At the present mo-
ment questions of too great importance are agitated.
The opposition which has arisen is too sharp and
antagonistic for the Government to renounce the
right which it possesses over its officials, and ex-
hibit a forbearance which under other circumstances
it might have been inclined to show. Were the
Government to allow the enemy to do as they liked
in our own camp, the Government would thereby
become a traitor to the cause which it has under-
taken to defend."