The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-15
Our Berlin Correspondence.

BERLIN, Nov. Is, 1850
The True Position Of the Pnsssian Que,t;ou-- The
Amim~s Of the Psopls-Syropsis of the King Of
PT~aia's SpeeeA- TaxatioH, &c, &c.
Every thing continues in the same state OF uncer-
tainty ss il was fortnight since. Peace and war
are still trembling in the balance. Sometimes one
seems TO have the preponderance, and then a new
incident occurs, which places it in imminent, dan
ger Of kicking the beam. As ! stated all along,
the Prussian government Is decidedly averse 10 a
breach with Austria, from a morbid dread Of the
popular eFervescence 1t would give rise to, and
which would yet afford the only prospect OF cluy-
ing on hostlfies with effect On the other hand,
calling cut the whole military force OF the nation
including the landwehr, is like playing with
edged tools, and may bring on a conlagation,
which no one would be more commanded and
alarmed at, than the very men whose incredible
incspacity and total want of political foresight have
occasioned il not that the accounts you read in
some Gernan pspers Of the m artial enthusiasm Of
the nation, and Of the eagerness with which they
obey the call to arms, are to be taken pied de IA
iefbs. On the contrary, am convinced. and, IN
fact state positively, from many instances that
have come under my observation, thu, the great
majority Of these citizen soldiers leave their homes
and their families very un willingly, and that If
Prussie had to carry on a war, merely with volun-
tsers, az the United States did in Mexico, her
army Of half a million would soon dwiadie into
much less imposing numbers. Bu; the facts, that
now they have once been obliged TO enter, they
would naturally be inc nsed 10 hnd that they were
subjected 10 all the hardehips and priy&tiols OF
military life, with no object but thet Of pOliucel
demonstration, or another move on the great dipo-
matte chess boafd. Besides this, the incon'
ceiyable arrogance of Austria, aud the conviction
that she intends TO leave Prussia other aiter1a-
tive but submission 10 all hel demands, have
aroused the the spirit Of ell classes Of the pcPua-
ton. The democrats, whe view that power az the
sworn enemy TO the progress Of liberal end enlighi-
,ned ideus, ere anxious for n war-whieh, under
whatever banner IL might begin, would probably
terminate In a great and decisive struggle between
liberty aud deEpOtism. The moderate party, dis
appointed IN their favoriie scheme 81 n German
Union, and finding themselves dgped and aban-
dUned by the very men who owed everything 20
their assistance, have lost all patience and ere de-
termibtd 10 bring matters 70 n crfis. Even the
conservatives, who care preciou Ne little for hoery,
or for constitutional government, and therefore en-
terten no very violeni endpathy TO Austria, OF
even 10 Russis, are indignant at the cavalier way
in which Prussia IL being treated by the other
powers, and think themselves bound, IN honor, to
avtnge the insults offered 70 the monarchy OF pre-
derrick the Great In word, all parties are uneni.
nous in thtiT disapprobafiop Of the vacating and
iritsOluie conduct 81 the government, ard iuslsi
upon having tbc qheAIon drought 70 an issue ny
some enc rgsuc ana decisive measure.
Under tbtte circumstances, the opening oil toe
Chambefs was looked forward 10 with considerable
anxiety, az was generally expected that the roy al
speech would throw some light ON the present
| policy sBd ultimate intentions OF the RUSSIAN
! cabinet. Thee hopes, like sO many others, were
/ doomcd TO b. frustrated. The Climbers met on
| 1hundsy, the 2iet instsn', end were opened ~
1 the kng IN ptrscn, with a speech, which may be
cglhd an unepnaled sprciInsn ~ the arr u saying
\ nothing IN a. many words 40 possible, and Wnicn
4 left honorable members In the same advance
f'ste ~ wifdorn found them IN. Aher allufing
70 The internal atisirs the montrchy, and the at
tempt ON his lilt, which hsdrendefed imrerauveiy
/ iecetesry 70 Hkc more Stringent measures against
The DE- structiye tendencies Of the prees, tile La-
/ ftty proceed To say hat his amicabe relations TO
| he great European powers had not been later.
uped, but that his tbdeavofs to give the states o.
| Gtfmeny a constitution suitable to their wants had
tstn Unsuccessful. He would, therefore. defer sl
attempts At realizing this project, ull alter the
Uhole Cerm1a CcnftderstIoa should he SETTLED on
ntV basis, snd hoyed that the negoua,icRs which