The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-10-29
AFFAIRS IN GERMANY
SPECIAL CORRESPONDENCE
OF THE
n Il W YOR X H. r AID

We are in the midst of new and important
crisis, which has already occasioned the downfall
of the Hansemann administration, and is likely to
lead to far more serious consequences than the
dissolution of one ministry and its replacement by
another The question at stake is of vital interest
to this nation, and one on which the preservation
Of its present and future liberties may be said to
depend 1t is well known that, before the revou-
tionary movements of last Spring, which shook
every throne, from the confines of Russia to the
shores of the Atlantic. Prussia was one of the
great monarchies of Europe, and the resources OF
the country were exhausted In keeping up an
enormous standing army. whose Chief object
of the intolcrable burthen they groaned under
The whlrlwind that swept over Europe after the
three days of Fe bruary, overturned the fabric Of
parts of Germany. After the events of the 18th of
March, the king who, few short months be forp,
had refused the most reasonable demands of his
subjects, now FASTENED to grant everything that
was required OF him, and TO convOke the repres en-
tatlves of the whole natlon-not of the privileged
classes, as heretofore-to assist him in framing a
constitution the widest and most liberal basis.
But In this transformation OF the whole system of
government. the army, that most efectual nstru-
ment OF arbitrary rule, remained unchanged a
compact body of more than three hundred thou-
sand men, drilled TO passive obedience, and Off
cered bv sclons Of the aristocracy the devoted
parsans of the old order of things, and the bitter
enemies o. innovations that threatened to curtall
them of their most cherished privileges, still con-
tinued at the uncontrolled command of a mo-
march who can hardly be supposed to be sincere IN
his adhesion 10 movement so utterly at variance
with every principle of his former ife and so op-
posed to what he has been taught to consider his
regal dignity and prerogatlve. No wonder, there
fore that feeling of dIsrust is entertained against
the army, enhanced by frequent collisions, in
which the conduct of the officers has given rise to
serious compliant An affair of this kind. which
took place some time since, at Schweidntz, in
Silesla, and which was attended with considera-
BILE loss of Life, at length induced the National
Assembly to pass resolution by which the Off
GERS of the army were enjoined to behave in a
conciliatory manner towards the citizens, to put
stop to the turbulence of the sodiery, and to re-
frain from aggravating it by their own example
Finally, those who felt unwilling to comply with
this decree, were required to throw up their COM
resolution was passed on the 9th of August
Nearly month having elapsed since then, and
no order of the nature referred to having been
issued by the war department, the liberal party IN
the National Assembly thought 1t high time to
question the ministry on the subject. The reply
was flat refusal to carry the resolution of
the Assembly into effect A tremendous ex-
citement followed this declaration, and NJ
Steine, the same member who had brought
in the original resolution, now proposed second
one, purporting that 1t the imperative duty of
mnistersto execute the decision of the representa-
tlves of the nation. With difficulty the ministry
daylast, the 18th inst, when the motion wascarred,
after stormy debate, by majority of n votes
You may easily imagine that so decided tr-
umph--fOr the former resolution only passed with
majority of one--has caused great Jubilee in the
liberal camp, and was received with equal rage
and CONSERVATION by the reactionary party. No
other course was lett to the ministry but to retire
from office. After considerable demur the king
accepted their resignation; and it was announced
W sterday, IN the National Assembly, that he had
entrusted M. Won Beckerath with the formation of
a new cabinet. This gentleman belongs to the
same class OF statesmen as his predecessors
liberal under the ancient regime, he has become
conservative, since the movement proceeded so
much further than he either desired or anticipated
and it is evident, from this nomination, that
struggle will still be made to prevent the relns of
government from passing to the radical party. In
all probability, the attempt will fail the oppos-
tion are now aware OF their strength, and likely
to use it; and unless the king consents to admit
their most prominent leaders to his councils, and
to fulfil to their utmost extent the promises he
made his people on the 10Th of March, new con-
fict Is to be apprehended, which must end either
in the restoration OF absOlutsm in the downfall
of monarchy IN Prussia.
The progress of democratic principles through
out the country is wonderful. The Germans--for-
merly so cold and apathetlc, so utterly without
ideas OF political freedom, and so ready TO yield
implicit obedience to the meanest delegate of the
established authorlties--seemed to have changed
their very natures, and to have imbbed all the
fire and energy of their western neighbors.
Monster meetings, clubs, PROFESSIONS and demon
STATIONS are the order of the day, and even the
opponents of the prevailing agitation are obliged
to fall in with the spirit OF the age, and endeavor
to attain their ends by employing the same means
which their adversaries have made use of with so
much success; In Saxony, Sllesla,. the Rhenish
provinces, and especially here Berlin, the spirit
OF republiSanlsm prevails to great extent A
union Of all Germany, on the plan OF the United
States is the favorlte vision OF many thousands of
ardent PATRIOTS; and, when we consider the rapid
iy with which revolutions are effected at present,
1t would show more boldness than foresight to pre-
dict that their DIRE am will never be realized. II is
certain, at least, that German unity, theme go
much harped upon Just now, can never be attained
under the present system, when the country par
celled out among number OF, more or less, power
full princes and potentates whose interest II is to
keep up provincial distinctions and ealousies, and
to prevent the various races which compose the
German people, from being fused into one great
and united nation. .'..'t. ..... A. B.
utt BERLIN, September Is, lS4S
The new ministry is appointed, and was present
at the sitting of the National Assembly OF Friday
last Mr. Won Beckerath, who had not succeeded
with the formation of a new ministry, resigned
his commission the 10th, and General Won
Pfuel was charged by the King to recon struct the
new cabinet. The following are the names of the
new ministers: General Won Pfuel, President of
the Ministry and Minister of War; Mr.. Eichmann,
Minister of the Interior; Mr. Won BONN, Minis
ter of the Finances; Count Won Donbof, Minister
for Foreign Affairs. The other departments are
10 be conducted by the ministers of the Inferior
and of the finances, until the ministry will be
pIete The necessity of establishing a new cabinet
without further delay, urged the government to
hasten the formation OF new ministry, though it
was not possible to consider, at the time il the new
ministry would be able to maintain itself, or ifthe
selection of the new members was likely to be ap-
proved OF by the people and their representatives.
in the National Assembly. The new ministry
must now take its chances 1t is certain, how
ever, that the government has been directed by
some sort of plan the choice of the new minis
try, the policy of which appears to be to act in f
ture more on its own authority, than it had done
hitherto
The members of the new cabinet are all persons
attached to the old SYSTEM and opposed to the new
This appears most singular, after the late minis
fr1 fhrA1s,n rcs the