The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-24
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.
BERLIN, December is, ls4s.
POSITION OF THE PARTIES

EUhUfEhN CUhhENfUNDENJE'
BERLIN, December is, ls4s.
POSITION OF THE PARTIES
The parties in Prussia have slightly changed
their relative positions since our last review The
two grand divisions are Of course the conserva-
tive and the democratic. The first of these, how
ever, is composed Of three different sections.
LIST. The ultras or the mobiles, and owners of no.
bic estates, who are opposed to all reform, and
wish to return to the good old times Of sbsolutism
%. The cabinet which wishes to conciliate the
qeeele by depriving thssr's'eoraer of their most
odious privileges, and the sristocracy by opposing
all substantial concessions to the spirit Of the sge
And Sd. The rich bourgeoisie, which would, II it
were not timid, proceed directly to it's object of
unseatng the aristocracy entirely, and taking for
themselves the post of power During the last
few weeks, these sections Of the conservative par
ty have been abusing each other in good, hearty
German. The ministerial sheets have rallied
against the Second Chamber, which may be con-
sidered the representative of the wishes of the rich
er bourgeoisie and of the bureaucracy and the ul
with Communism and robbery" This quarrel
ing grows chiefly out Of proposition by the min
listers to diminish the feudal claims of the manor
owners on the peasants, and out of the position
taken by the Second Chamber toward the Cabi-
net in one or two questions Of finance, and rela-
tions of the Church to the State.
The organs of the three conservative parties
are firmly united, however, against the popular
or Democratic party. This last has taken, in the
last two weeks, q great development The result
of the Waldeck and Jacoby trials has been the
renewed courage of the Democrats, conscious
of vastly increased strength and moral inilu-
ence, and desire to measure themselves with
their opponents in the approaching election for
the Erfurt Diet. This is the instructive feeling
of the Democrats, flushed as they are by their
recent yiotories In the courts, over the Govern.
ment. They feel that they could send to Erfur,
the majority of the members of the Lower House
at the election Of January 80, spite of their dis
advantages under the law. This is probably tn,
case, as more than four-ffths of the people be
long to the Democratic party Butthe wise head,
and leaders say, OF what use would Il be to send
the majority to the Lower House, whose decisions
are of no value unless ratified by the Upper Hous.
and the King Of Prussia II the Lower Hous,
should refuse to accept the Constitution which
the King says must be accepted, the result would
be dissolution of the body, and perhaps impris
| onment for the prominent members By voting
then, we can gain nothing, but we sanction tn,
illegal repeal Of the universal and equal sufrrag,
law by the arbitrary will of the King
The majority of the Democrats will then, in al
probability, conclude TO abstain entirely from al
participation in the vote They will thus per
form an act of dignity, and keep themselves fret
to profit by any future revolution As soon al
the Prussian army can be relied on, the democra
cy will begin to stir its giant limbs to some pur
pose.
NEWSPAPER DISCUSSION.
The CONSTITUTIONAL leading conservative paper
and the National, q leading democratic one, ar,
now enga ged in discussion on the different forms
Of governments The last is much hampered BY
the delicacy Of the subject, any expression savor
ing Of republicanism being Of course high trea
son, and subjecting the editor to death or impris
onment for life. 1t is curious to see how, under
these circumstances, his adversary presses him OF
to Doggy ground.
One Of the arguments Of the Constitutional fo
monarchy is that the great discoveries in the art
and sciences, improvements Of all kinds, are eyel
made, not by the many but by the chosen few
The deduction is, that political power should b.
held by the King and nobility! This is only
one of a hundred brilliant ideas Of the same scr
put forth by the political philosophers of the con
sentative party.
FINANCES
The Prussian treasury is In a miserable plight
by the ayowal Of the Minister himself This is
striking commentary on the boasting speech Of tn
King on the opening Of the Chambers, last Au
gust. Then the state Of the finances was painte'
by his truthful Majesty eoleur de rose now, ]
seems that the Government was entirely msta
ken, and that loan of fifteen millions had beer
made and the money used, principally for arm,
| expenses. The money was thus applied by tb'
4 arbitrary order Of the King, no appropriation
having been made. 1t is now proved that tn
new loan Of twenty .one millions, authorized FOL
the building Of the great Eastern Railroad, viii
most Of il 20 the same way, the Government having
exhausted its means, and being quite unable t.
make face against the expenditures Of next year
II will not be long before Prussian loan will b
offered in the money market Ia ls4s, the Gov
eminent made an appeal to the people, that IL, Il
the Reaction party, for free will offerings, whe'
the result wss q contribution to the amount o
81 $50. The appeal will scarcely be repeated.
POLICE OUrRAGEs
The overbearing, cruel, and even violent con
duct ofthe undcrstrappers of the police, mentione'
In former letter, has been In due form presents'
TO the prosecuting attorney Of Berlin for investi
! CATION. One Of the presidents Of the clubs q
which che acts of violence took place, has take
the pains TO collect all the testimony, with tn
names Of the witnesses. The answer Of tn
attorney was, that he could do nothing, for tn
abuse Of Official power by constablos subjects
them not to the criminal law, but to the ceusurs
their superiors. In fact, the police president ha
published card reprimapdipg the oonstabIes, an
calling on them 10 observe the law, and commit o
unnecessary violence. This has not satisHsd Ii
people, who think that 1t 10 not enough TO atom
for outrages which MANNED several persons, ~
caused the loss Of life to female.