The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-15 00:00:00

The Incorporation of Frankfort.

The following has been published as the text of
the address pronounced by Herr von Patow, the
Prussian Civil Governor, in the Roemer llall, upon
the occasion of the solemn publication of the decree
for formally taking possession of Frankfort :
"In the name of his Majesty the King, I declare
to you that, in consequence of the sovereign decree
which has just been published, the union of the for-
mer free city of Frankfort and its territory to the
Prussian Monarchy is accomplished de jure et de
facto. I request the burgomasters, the senators, the
authorities and officials and their assistants in gene-
ral, to remain in the exercise of their functions ac-
cording to the laws and ordinances now in force,
should their convictions not lead them to oppose the
changes that have been effected. The moment when
this change is being effected must be for you, mem-
bers of the Senate and Council, for you all, free
citizens of Frankfort, a moment of great interest ;
but it is also a remarkable one to the foreign guests
in your town, for all Germany, and for every friend
of German history. Before us are the portraits of
the Emperors of Germany during a period of more
than 1,000 years ; from this balcony were pro-
claimed, before an erected people, the elections,
often so vastly important to the history of Germany,
for the history of the world. The streets of Frank-
fort, the antique residences of its citizens with their
singular forms, their magnificent proportions, its
temples, its schools, its artistic and scientific esta-
blishments, its commemorative statues, all recall to
us a glorious past, a long series of centuries of hap-
piness for the internal life of the commune.
" But, gentlemen, it is not sentiments, it is not
reminiscences which decide the history of the world.
History unceasingly strides onward ; new times and
new exigencies appear. The old pictures must give
" You all, gentlemen—you
place to new ones.
all hitherto free
citizens of Frankfort, have lost your independence.
This is, I acknowledge, a loss the importance of
which cannot be too highly estimated. But many
compensations have been reserved for you in ex-
change for that sacrifice. You have now a father-
land, in the highest sense of the word--a fatherland
such as you never yet possessed, nor could have pos-
sessed. You now enter a kingdom which on solemn
occasions, and again quite recently, has afforded a
proof by its organisation and its admirable govern-
ment, its brave army, and its people in arms, that it
can stand erect and protect and defend the rights of
its inhabitants at all times and against all comers. In
future you will occupy your place in history—you will
take part in history. You have now become mem-
bers of a State which has understood that new times
have come, which has known how to attain the
object of its efforts with a firm but gracious hand,
which has been the first to lay down the bases of
national progress, of liberty of person and property,
of liberty of domicile, industry, and trade. You
are now become citizens of a State which was the
first to propose and bring about a Customs' union,
and a unity of currency and postal and telegraphic
arrangements, and to prepare in every way for the
establishment of German unity. You are now
become citizens of a State in-which religion and edu-
cation, the arts and sciences, trade and manufactures
have day by day enjoyed a more effectual protec-
tion, in which justice has known how to conquer a
grand reputation for integrity, in which a well-or-
dered administration unites ability with leniency.
" Prussia can offer you all this, and she owes it
to her long line of great and glorious Princes, such
as no other country can boast.
" And you, also, gentlemen—you, also, citizens
of this town, you will find a firm protection and a
firm support in a King who directs the destinies of
a great kingdom with justice and wisdom, with
power and leniency.
s Majesty
has acquainted you, in
warm and cordial
withng
and with what he wishes to be towards you. Take,
then, frankly the hand which is extended to you ; be
towards his- Majesty what you ought to be. And
now, new Prussians, utter for the first time the cry
so dear to the hearts of the old Prussian patriots,
God save, God bless the King and repeat with me
' Long live his Majesty William, King of Prussia!'"

The following protest has been issi ed. by the
citizens of Frankfort :
" The constitutional authorities of Frankfort were