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

early as the Gosh Of March, the Prime Minister
sent circular letter to the officials Of every class
as well as to the known supporters aud friends
of the monarchy, exhoriing them to enter into
the ranks Of the new Guard Immediately after
wards, one might have seen great numbers Of
pursy privy councillors painting along the streets,
under the weight of heavy muskets Even the
notorious inquisitor, Kamptz, who had in bis day
sent hundreds Of young men to the Prussian
dungeons, for the crime of wearing the German
oockade, was running from house 70 house, sport.
ing cockade rs large as ones hAkd The large
number of Government dependents, who had
been converted to constitutional government only
in the last twenty flour hours, were busy among
the citizens They strove to have the cry adopt
ed, of Under God, for King and Fatherlsnd y
Minutoh, the Police President, enrolled as pri-
Yates and officers in the guard his whole list of
informers, constables, and spies. Nothing was
left undone to gain those who mounted guard at
the palace. The best refreshments were fur
nished them from the royal kitchen and cellar.
The Artists and Students Companies were in
vited to yertahle banauets in the apartments ad-
joining those assigned to them for their quarters
The King himself came among them to jest and
chat with them, to chuck this one under the chin,
and rally another gaiy on his democracy.
The people seemed to be not at all aware of
the treachery meditated against them. They
| trusted to the honor of the Government TO fulfil
all its promises and believed that nothing more
was to be done by themselves to preserve the ac-
QUESTIONS they had made. A member Of the city
council happening to say in speech, on the 23th,
We are in the midst of revolution, !" the words
called forth the lveliest marks Of the disapproba-
tion Of all present The revelation was sup
posed to have been ended on the 10Th
The Reaction now thought il might venture to
take anornvr srcp IN advance. Minutoi published
proclamation on the 23th, which placed the
armed citizens under the immediate control of the
police. This bold measure was the first victory
of the Reaction. We have seen that II had be-
gun to prepare for il on the last day of the Revo-
| luton.
Mnutoli now began to plan the re-introduction
of the soldiers. He engaged few popular lead
ers, among them Urban, the horse-doctor, to sec.
ond him. 1t was not thought prudent to bring
hack the Royal Guards, who were most odious 20
the people, but few regiments of the line. 1t
was to be done under the pretext of relieving the
citizens Of part of the onerous service Of patrol
| ling the city and mounting guard. A proclama-
tion made on the l9,h informed the public that
few soldiers were to be introduced for the above
reason but that no use would be made of them
except at the request of the Commander Of the
Burgher Guard and of the authorities of the
city.
As soon as Minutol had succeeded in bringing
back the military, he resigned bis Office Of COM
mander, on the plea Of its inoompatibilisy with
HE duties AZ President Of Police
1 The civil magistrates Of Berlin, rs eervi.s a
body Of men ms the King could desire, now took
the direction of the affairs of the Burgher Guard
On the 5th Of April they called meeting Of the
majors and captains, for the purpose of choosing
another Commander from six candidates named
by the Government. or the six FIVE were utterly
unfit in every way for the post. The sixth was
General Aschoh, designated as early az the 18th
of March, by the Court Camarilla, instead Of
Minu.oii. Hs was OF course elected, not by the
general suffrage of the Guafd, according 10 ,he
. promise Of the King, but by "A small number OF
higher officers. From the dsy of his election
may be dated the uncessing false alarms the re-
peated parades of the Burghcr Guard on the
most trifing occasions, all well calculated TO dis
gust the men with the service Various means
were also employed to get up among the people an
unfriendly feeling toward the Guard, or to cover
II with ridicuie.
The greatest hlunder committed by the Revo-
lutionists was in not arousiDg the whole people
This was In itself enough to ruin their cause
The King had lost none of his power. This lay
idle for the moment, because all strength had
fed from the arm that welded it. No means of
defence were provided against il while the people
had the King ut their fett The people were, as
they have always been, generous and con6ding-
! The Reaction was left with its full organization
the Revolution was not organized at all, and the
result could not be doubtful