The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-01-17
CHAPTER iii.

The armiag Of The People and The Bugher Guard
The great idea which presided over the forma
tion of the Prussian army between the years $50
and 1919 WE, that II Should be peoples ez my
the best protector Of the newly gained lbertie
The monarchy had, between 1915 and 1874,
changed it into an instrument of its arbitrar
power. The people had long monrned over tn
chasm thus made between themselves and tn
army, and their first demand after the Revolu
tion was, that arms should be put into thei
hands
On the morning of the 10th of March, afte
the retreat of the military, large crowd gather
ed on Alexander Square. In it were hundreds o
the sbarpshootcrs, who had fought so CALAMITY
through the whole combat. At eleven o'clock, il
took its way toward the palace, crying "Arm,
for all the Peoplep The thousands, previously
collected on the palace, square joined in the cry
The celebrated author, Gutzkow, and others
we're deputcd to convey to the Prime Minister
the wishes of the people. 1t was on this occasion
that Prince Licbnowsky, who fell, few months
| later, at Frankfort, first attempted to play the
part of a popular leader.
DR.. Stieber, a member of the deputation, who
had spoken with the King personally, brought
out the news, about twelve O'clock that the King
had consented to the armng of the people, and
to the election Of the officers by the different
companies This CONCESSION had been made in
the presence Of two of the new Ministers, Counts
Arnim and Schwerin. The latter announced
shortly after, from the balcony of the palace, the
names of the new Ministers, and the immediate
execution Of the promise to arm the burghers. In
closing, he said that the popular ~ Police Presi-
dent, Minutoli, had consented to place himself at
the head of the new Burgher Guard.
At one o'clock, the King appeared on the ter
race of the palace opposite the Lust Garden. He
was accompanied by two citizens Here he made
speech to the people, who had now collected in
immense numbers. In this speech he used the
following words "I EN- convinced that the tran
quillity Of the city can be preserved by no per-
sons better than by the citizens themselves
Guns and other arms were Immediately given
from the neighboring arsenal to certain number
of the bourgeoisie and police officers. In the
afternoon, between five and six o'clock, q div-
sion of the armed Burgher Guard, organized in
haste, and consisting principally Of persons In
the employ of the Government, marched, with
drums beating and colors flying, TO the palace, to
mount guard
The command OF the forces now to be organized
as Burgher Guard was given to Minutoli, the
President Of Police. II bad been successfully
declined by the Generals Won Newman and Won
Aschof, In despite Of all the solicitations of two
of the Kings adjutanis On the same day, MIMI
toll published a proclamation, signed by himself
and six citizens, stating that the King had, at the
request Of the inhabitants of Berlin, agreed to
the aiming Of the bome,oisn and police officers,
and added, that the law regulating the new or
ganiration should speedily appear
Thus on the same day, the promise made by
the King Of general srming Of the people was
changed into one for armiDg picked men among
the bourgeoisie. Minutolfs promise that the or
ganizaton should shortly be legalized, was never
performed at all.
The design Of the institution Of a Burgher
Guard was recognised by all. The VoSsaeh Jour
nal an ultra conservative paper, expressed II truly
in the words "Protec,ion OF the recently ac-
quired liberties against the prepondsrance Of the
military forcen But the enemies Of the Revolu-
ton suffered only day TO slapse before they con-
ceived the bold purpose Of gradually changing |
the new Guard into an institution OF police, and
thus of destroying all its efficiency and disheart
ening its members
This end was easily reached. The means were
simple noting was necessary, except to MI the
ranks Of the new Guard with Government off,
Gals Of every grade, to place IL under the CON-
mand Of leader devoted 10 the King, to gain
the privatss by personal kindness, and dissust
Them with the service by unusual fstiguss AZ !