Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-12-06
From the New York Tribu



The fatofu1 words of the great Pole rise spOntane
ously to the mind read the last news from Eu-
rope. Yes, the end of Germany, too is accomplish
ed. The Northern Autocrat is as supreme on the
Rhine as on the Neva, and the ashes of Charlemag-
ne and the bones of Martin Luther lie within the
boundaries of Russia.
And this is only the logical sequence of all that
has been in Europe for the last thirty months Every
thing-since in the summer of 748, Cavaignac aban-
doned Italy to Radetzky, and France deserted the
cause of the people abroad as she had done at home
has enured to to the benefit of Russia. The policy
of every cabinet, the movements of every army have
strengthened Russian influence and aggrandized Rus
sian power. And this for two-fold reason. Rus
STA alone has acted upon thorough, and everywhere
consistent principles Russia alone has had the
age earnestly to back her policy with her military
force. Other powers have shrunk IN alarm before
the danger Of European War Russia has boldly
confronted that danger, and it has vanished like
phantasm from her path Austria is her vassal, TIA
| ly her outpost, and Prussia and all Germany
with her, resigning everything but the merest show
of National Independence, acknowledge her will and
add themselves to her dOminiOns.
The nature of the events just accomplished in Ger
MANY is too palpable to be misunderstood Of the
revolution of 1848 not relic remains to the German
people, and even the traces of 1880 are almost eta
ced The Confederation, which for so many years
strengthened the dynasties and kept the nation d.
videP and poweress and which in the days of March
the popular fury most justly sought to destroy, is at
last restored to all its pernicious authority
The promise ofGerman Unity, 80 dear to the heart
of the masses, long the catch word of the Courts
is extnguished and with it the constitutions and all
the guarantees of public liberty which Princes have
sworn to, and the cheated people confded in. The
Prussian Monarchy, long since faithless to its own
subjects has sealed the contamination of its false
ness, impotence and folly toward the rest of Germa-
ny.
Our readers will remember that little more than
two years ago, the King of Prussia proclaimed him
self the foremost in the movement for reorganizng
Germany Constitutional Federal Union. How
hat TO h.
captuated enough to say, that had the courage or
fidelity of this King to his word equalled his ambi-
ton, that movement might have proved something
better than pitiabe and disastrous farce
When the Frankfort attempt failed Prussia could
not abandon the scheme of German Federal Union
For she pledged to it, and earnestly desired its
realization, not only from large ideas OF national pol
icy, but because her sentimental and romantic King
lOnged to flourish in the gew-gaws and grandeur
proper to the head of such a Union. Accordingly
d new Parliament was assembled at Erfurt new
Constitution concocted, new Union launched into
existence.
: The party which had supported the Prussia inter
est at Frankfort also supported though with abated
confidence and doubtful hopes this second union
= We mean the German Constituencies, body
= powerful in wealth and numbers and counting in
its ranks of the ablest men in the nation. And
thus Prussia though its Government had again and
again trampled upon the Constitutional principle al
home stood as the great representative and protec
e tor of that principle in Germany.
e Austria and Bavaria, the other hand, Jealous Of
the preensions of Prussia to be az the head of the
Federal Unon utterly refused to accede to this
o plan to tolerate it. And finally the safest
It of putting end to the whole business they
determined to restore the old Confederation such
it had existed from 1915 to 1848. The essential diff
ference be it understood, between this Confedera
ton and the proposed Federal Union is that the for
is managed solely by the representatives of the
e several Governments whereas the latter has in it,
l. Parliament Lower House representing the German
t, people, What has been called the German Cues
e ton whether the Constitutional plan of Prussis
the Absolutist plan of Austria and Bavaria should
n be carried into execution and submitted to by al
IT parties. On this question animated controversy
= between those Governments has for many month
crowded the German papers with diplomatic declara
II tons and rejoinders.