The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1850-12-28
THE KEPU BLIC.

present King-a of liberal tendencies, of great
ambition, bat of no talent-granted the long pro-
missed and long withheld charter; end gave the
Prussians a constitution that would not work, aad
in which he reserved to himself rights, privileges
and duties, utterly inconsistent with representa-
| tive form OF government
| 1.-The French revolution broke out-the Germans
| like the rest OF the continental nations, went mad
and one great, united, and free empire, or perhaps
republic of Germany, was the dream of the Prus-
slams, the Saxons, the Hessians, and some other
branches Of the Teutonc family. The King of
Prussia caught the contagion, and. losing all pru
dence and selfoontrol, shouted as Justify a Red
| Republican for a arrangement of the German
polity and endeayored to abolish the very name of
| Prussia, which, for the future he said was to be
| lost in that OF Germany. He soon found however,
| that he was playing dangerous game, and that
his revolutionary colleagues the professors the
dents, and the people, had idea that Germany
would be most comfortably and securely united if
| there kings, dukes, electors, within it's
| boundaries.
| ".rhs did not suit the purposes of his ambition;
his subjects were going far too fast towards republi-
canism to please him, and he turned suddenly
round upon them, and told them-if not in words,
by deeds-that the unity of Germany without the
King of Prussia as Emperor thereof was not the
u
would combat his old friends Of the democra and
crush them beneath the weight of his armies. He
did so; Prussia was transformed into vast camp,
with the double object of coercing his subjects
and of overawng the Austrians, and all other mem
bers of the German Confederation who were not
willing either to be swallowed up entirely to lose
their position, or any portion of their territory for
the sake Of Prussia. Still keeping his own ends in
view, he tomented the civil war between the Danes
and the Schleswig- Hosteiners, desiring to round
of his new empire by that maritime province. He
procured the oonvocation of an Assembly, or Par
lament to supersede the old Diet, and to debate on
| the future relations of Germany. That Assembly
broke up, having done nothing during its exist
ence but to compicate existing difficulties to ex.
asperate mutual distrusts, to acerbate previous ill
feeling and To render confusion worse confound-
cd Austria being menaced with the loss of the
flower of her dominions-Austria proper-and
with being converted into Scavonian instead of
German Empire, naturally endeavored to pre-
vent the contamination, and TO defend her integ
rity at the point Of the sword. Sorely pressed by
the Hungarians and the Lombards she struggled
for existence; while Prussia, de tacto absolute
and despotc power, and engaged in a conflict with
revolution in her own territory, gave all the aid
she could to the revolutionary parties in those two
ingdoms-earing nothing for principle, for con-
sistency, or for justice, If Austria could only be
weakened, per Jas aut nefas
'sThe Emperor of Russia came to the aid of his
ally, and Austria saved from destruction, and
enabled 10 cope with Prussia hand to hand The
Par lament of Erfurt next convoked by Prus
STA, without the consent of the mead of the actual
Confederation, and was powerless for good, and
az apt for evil, its predecessor. The Hessian
ditfcu ty then arose. The Eieotor, unable to rule
bis subjects, to the allegiance Of his army
demanded as he was entitled 70 do by the Federal
pact, the support of the Federal army. Austria
the legal head of the Confederation, and acting in
strict accordance with her right and with the
! ties by which Europe was bound after the pacihca-
ton OF Waterloo, dispatched an army of occupa-
ton into Hesse Cassel. Prussia, without shadow
of right 10 interfere except under the orders of the
Confederation, occupied Hesse with another army,
flattering the revolutionary party in Germany
with the idea that she supporting the liberals
of Hesse against their foolish sovereign; but having
no other object in view than the old scheme of
Prussan aggrandizement, and the unity OF Ger
many under Prussian auspices.
'As if determined that the final struggle for su-
premacy should now be fought, and that the Elec-
orae of Hesse Cassel should be the battle field the
King of Prussia called out the La,.d,oe'r, by which
| his available force was increased to upwards of
500 900 men For the last few weeks the armies of
Austria and Prussia have been in sight of each
other, eager 10 strike; and the democratic Prus-
slams, forgetful Of all the wrongs they have endured
at the hands Of their ambitious and arbitrary but
weak sovereign, have been smtten with the love Of
conquest have considered the honor Of their coun-
try to be at stake and have desired nothing better
than an unnecessary and most wicked war with
their Austrian brethren. The King Of Prussia.
however, scared at his own work, and recoiled
/ at the sound himself had made Austria, acting
I'm strict accordance with Law and right, could not
draw back one inch (howevcr 10th che might
be to engage in the confict) without losing her
own self respect, and sinking in the estimation Of
Europe. On the other hand, the King Of Prussia,
having taken the step, could not retraoe it without
stultifying himsef-a fatal result TO in his
position In this state Of affairs the conference be-
| tween M Manteufie and NJ, de Scbwartzen berg
was held at 0lmutz; and, the Eeotor OF Hesse COM
ing to the rescue, offered to manage his subjects
hinsolf and TO withdraw his demand for the aid OF
| the Federal army BY this compromise, Austria
may how retire without either compromise Of right
or dignity, and Prussia may withdraw without hu-
initiation.
| So the affair at present stands, and there Ia a
truce between the high bcllgerents. Whether the
truce shall expand into peace Is impossible 10
foresee. The elements OF mischief are too many TO
justify the hope that the troubles Of Germany are
concluded. There 10 but one great and obvious
chance Of a amicsble settlement-the sbdication
Of the King Of Prussia, and the instslment of an
other monarch less fettered by the past, and who
will be able to maintain his own rights without
attacking those Of his neighbors. Revolutionary
kings never do any good for themselves; and men
who take the color Of their character from crcum-
stances, and who are always Of the opinion which
! happens 20 be in the ascendant, are not At 10 be
entrusted with the chief authority in times Of revo-
lutionary excitement. The King of Prussia bids
fair TO be n new example Of THE old truth. His alb
dicston at the present time would be blessing 70
Europe, and possibly TO himself His successor
might have difficult, but il would not be hope
less task. A"
Supreme Court Of the United states.
p.,c.v n.oxx,Y. "a t9,O