The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-03-07
EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENCE.
BERLIN, January %, 1850.

BERLIN, January %, 1850.
To the Editor ofthe National Era:
The scenes have been once more shifted in the Z
grand drama of the German Revolution. The
King of Prussia now makes his entry on the
stage, his mask off, and in the full splendor Of
his royal robes. His time he thinks, for conceal
ment is passed. Away with vacillation, with
weakness of resolution let these churlish demo-
Gratis see that | am every inch king. When
deputation of citizens waited last year on the
Prince of Prussia to hand him petition for the
abdication of the King, and the voluntary renun-
citation by the Prince of his rights to the crown he
answered them with his hand on his sword and
the air of a tragedy hero" Know, subjects, that
the members Of the royal house Of Hohenzollern
will die, sword in hand, sooner than surrender
their Cod given rights" His brother the in
vumpcuU OF the throne, is not inclined to fight or
to die, but to temporize and negotiate His lions
skin is not large but he ekes it out with the foxs
tail The time had arrived, however, when he
could no longer deceive: he must swear or refuse
to swear to the new constitution. Even in this
embarrassing dilemma, he could not altogether
forget his cunning. He proposed fifteen amend
ments, which annihilate the constitutional form
of Government, protesting at the same time that
his conscience would not permit him to do other
wise, and that his opinions being known, 81 per-
sons would suspect his intention to overthrow the
constitution, unless he proved his devotion to it
by proposing these amendments. These adopted,
he can swear, with coed conscience, to observe
the constitution This is probable; for then the
Government would be as absolute as before
March, 1S4S.
The Kings message of the 7th of January
makes an epoch in the history of the present
reign Under what circumstances is it sent TO the
Chambers
The King had dissolved the Diet Of 1s47, and
the Diets and Assemblies of ls4s and ls49 Each
time different pretext was put forward Last
spring, it was that the electoral law was too lib
era and that the bourgeosie should monopolze
the political power. 81 will publish an electoral
law said he, (Which will place the power in the
hands of the rich bourgeoisie, and the Chamber
chosen under it shall revise the constitution as it
may please. | will sanction what it does, for the
Prussian Royalty must hereafter repose on the
bourgeoisie" The King and his ministers We'd
They had often deceived the people, but as to de-
ceiving the bourgeoisie-ah, that was too horrid
to be possible!
A large portion of the bourgeoisie fell into the
trap One fifth Of the whole number of electors
took part in the elections. The rest, consisting
principally of democrats, refused to vote, protest
ing against the repeated acts of faithlessness and
violence on the part of the King.
The new Chamber entered on its functions.
The alliance between the King and bourgeoisie
was complete. Since the 9TH day of last August,
the two Chambers have been diligently engaged
in revising the constitution. The members, in
auenced by the cajoleries the threats the in
rigues, aud the bribery Of the Court, for bribery
is practiced here almost openly have struck out
Of the Kings constitution nearly sl the guarantees
of liberty. All that they have wanted was to pre-
serve the outward appearance of constitution
form Of Government. They have been as serviie
as possible within those limits The Government
budgets have been voted almost without an exam
nation the loan of q 900 900 has been accorded
the army has been absolved from taking an oath
to support the constitution, and required to swear
obedience to the King.
All the arbitrary ordinances of the Govern
ment have been approved the destruction oil the
independence of the judiciary has been agreedto
the penal laws and courts have been placed at the
mercy Of any General who may choose to declare
the state of siege; the populations in the paDn0
treasury have been overlooked the falsehoods IN
the royal address, in regard to the state OF the
finances, generously hid from public view
short they have done all that worSn'PP'"e
jects could do for their king by the grace u
GodD
What did they ask in return 1 Nosalos Dus
the relief of the bourgsosie from certain burden
Heretofore the nobility have been exempt IN
great measure from taxes. Their large country
estates nav no,hiog to the treasury. The evii Is
snormon. II costs the bourgeoisie good many
million. annually. The taxes which the family
81 Count Arnim alone should pay, amount annu,
.lly to something like fifty thousand dollars OF
which not a single cent is paid The last hips
promised in 1911, that this state Of things sn0u'a
cease at q very early period His promise va" sS
forgotten, for kings always forget promises Nns
they have not the edge Of sharp axe In P.'sr
tive The bourssoisis wanted the promise ~