The republic. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1849-1853, 1851-09-19
The Late Movement in Austria.

The Emperor of Austria has made bold
movement, hazardous experiment, upon the
patience, endurance, and submissiveness of the
people of that empire; that of setting aside,
blottng out, and abrogating, by single stroke
Of his pen, the written constitution demanded
and acquired by the people in 1913, and sol
emily sworn to by himself. He has at once
assumed to himself the sole and entire govern
ment of the empire, and made himself its alb
solute and irresponsible master; SO that, if
this act is submitted to by the people, he
will be as much the autocrat of Austria
as Nicholas is of Russia, and indeed more
absolute and uncomfortable. 1t is daring
submit7 The Germans love peace, love
prosperity, are devotedly attached to their
homes and families but they have, ever since
the days of Roman aggression, been distin-
gushed for their love of liberty and their un-
yielding obstinacy They may submit for
time, with sullen patience, to this attempt to
deprive them of their rights; they may bide
their time, and, until that time comes, seem
TO acquiesce in their wrongs; but their time will
come, and terrible one it will be to usurpers.
The reckoning and settlement must be made.
and when il is fearful one it will be to those who
are now laying up wrath against the day ofwIath.
Sooner OF later there must come an open and
bloody contest between the crowned heads of
eastern and northern Europe and the people-a
war of determination. This broke out in lS4S,
but was brought to an end before the people
had secured their liberties with such guarantees
and entertainments as would render them safe
against the attacks of royalty. They trusted
to the oaths Of kings, the plghted faith of en-
perors-oaths taken in the most solemn man
ner, and with all the forms and observances
that could render them sacred but they find
the oaths and faith Of emperors but frail securi-
ties against usurpation and tyranny, when these
are supported by subservient standing army.
They took the citadel of absoutism, or partial
Iy took it, in lS4S, but surrendered it again. or
RETAINED from dismantling it, upon the promise
that its guns should never again be turned upon
the people, who should thereafter have voice
mantled Far from it; and the guns have
been double shotted, and again turned upon the
people
In this movement Austria undoubtedly acts
by the advice, and has assurance Of support
from the autocrat of Russia. Between the
three crowned heads of Russia, Prussia, and
Austria, there must be concert and union, an
alliance against freedom and for the support of
despotism combination of this kind on the
one side cannot but produce combinations on
the other sooner or later, and contest which
| will not end but with the entire submission
and prostraton of one party or the other.
Speaking of this movement of the Emperor
JOSEPH, the editor of the .Ne,c York Courier
and Enquirer says that 'the old moderate,
constitutional, liberal, and yet conservative
party of Germany, has everywhere arrayed
itself in the frmest opposition to the recent
royal policy; and comprising, as it does, the
great body of the intellect and moral worth Of
the German people, it can never be brought to
submission. 1t is the most wretched Of all de-
| lusons for the rulers Of Germany TO imagine
that, because they have conquered the revolu
tion, they have conquered the popular power
because they have been able to bride license
they can bring liberty TO the dust. This bolC
move of FRANcIs JosEPH will surely precpi
tate the final crisis, and make its intensity ye
the more terrible"
T.N