The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1851-06-07
CITY OF WASHINGTON.
SATURDAY MORNING, JUNE 7, 1851.


PIussi@ and Germany.
We refer readers to interesting letter IN our pa
per loday IRON correspondent in Berlin, Although The
recent revolution in that quarter has disappointed the
hopes OF those who expected from the immediate erea
lion OF power experimenting that of our federal system
has IN other respects been great failure as has
been generally imagined Before that revolution Ger
many was known u.s. and TO England and France
chiefly through her literature and philosophy OF her So
cia organization and civil institutions igno-
rant almost as are at this time of those OF China
Montesa ueu had iamlarzed France the elder Adams
and Alexander Hamilton sought TO do our people, with
the English government the only model fit to be
studied and copied Bu, the Germans fortunate IN
this respect than France pursued noseessy the reforms
founded on the basis OF the ancient habits OF her peo
pie, and hence had kings to behead at the close OF
the last century; nor have they now the moT.ihca'
ton of having adopted republican forms which are
incapable Of satisfying themselves, or OF inspiring sen
timent calculated TO aid their neighbors in their sirug
giles for freedom Yet may be confidently said tina, the
reforms realized by The Germans in the last fifty years
equal those of France Prussia particularly has been
successful in etiecing immense changes in her social
system, placing her, in this point OF view, on par win
England All her nsutions-ciyll, military, religious
COMMERCIAL and terriloal-haye been reformed except
her royalty and this exception rather nominal than
real for the King absolute iory,wo years ago. and mil
ary in his political character, is now limited executive
exercising his powers according to the forms OF cons
tuition which surrounds him with parliament and which
fixes his responsibility almost as certainly as does that OF
the British constitution that OF It's King or Queen.
nation of seventeen millions OF people, capable OF real
zing such results, in possession OF The Rhine and The
Elbe and whose shores are washed by the Baltic, des
tined to play an important part in the future of Europe,
and her policy must be studied and understood by those
courts that are interested in the great work OF the future
progress of nations as well as of individuals.
Almost two centuries ago, the agitation caused by the
corrupons the Catholic church spolected at Brande
bourg and terminated until the Professionals were
able TO dictate peace which secured their religious free
dom And il is not unreasonable TO say that in far less
than this PERIOD the German mind will carry forward the
political reform which is 10 convert European absou,lsm
into a limited monarchy, and then this description oil
monarchy into popular representation like that OF the
United States This, we trust, is the mission OF Ger
many whose States are in many respects like ours,
CAPABLE of being unirel into federal system. They
possess interests sufficiently diversified for the sep
arate sovereignty proper Tor the maintenance OF local
INDEPENDENCE In this movement the position of Prus
STA is to the civil liberty OF Europe what Luther and
Calvin were to the struggle for religious liberation Her
people have been heroes in every memorable event
OF Europe The thirty years war, the secuarizauons
which followed it, the edict of Nantes. the seven
years war; the struggle with the empire and the final
reorganization of the continental powers after the battle
OF Waterloo attest the powerful influence OF these peo.
pie Though living Under despotic forms OF government
they have yet known how TO practise religious tolerance,
to Danish vassaage and measuably arsocatc privilege,
TO advance in the practical equality OF rights to found
schools of public instruction. and to promote the sciences
and the arts This they have done without any vio-
lence like that by which Cromwell usurped the British
crown or that which characterized the French revolu-
ton
We are aware that there are eminent men who think
that the late agaons Europe have sealed the fate OF
efforts 10 increase the liberty of the people, and 10 put
into operation such principle OF representation as exists
in the American constitution. But not OF this
number and think fair examination OF the present
state OF Europe justi6es better hope. II we consider
that half century ago the entire continent OF Europe was
in a OF vassalsge that famine ordinary event,
and that fana,icism and sbsousm had established every
where the supremacy OF violence and disorder and II
we then consider that absolutism is yielding even IN
Austria to written constitutions; that the eudal system
has los, nearly all It's barbac features that the Pope
himself is 10 longer considered iniable that the Turk
sh harem is not the OF despotic vengeance
that charity has become not religious prescription
but public debt-an institution modifying penal laws,
patronizng science, and elevang the public temper
that even in England the arisocracy is giving up its
privilege, and that parliamentary reform has purified the
elections emancpatng the Catholic, and giving political
equality to the Jews say that, in view OF such anne
Iteration and progress ought not TO despair OF the ult
mate success which the friends OF popular liberty yet
to attain Wepreer at least, to look at the bright side OF
the picture and hope that If the two last ages have
done so much towards the general amelioraon Of the
institutions OF the world the next will be equally for
tunate.
Hoping that Prussia is now engaged IN effort
which may free Germany from the influence OF Aus
tra, and ultimately carry TO Constannople the prin.
cpes Of civil equality and representative guarantees
ganst the power of desposm and absolutsm cheer
fully give place to communications from friend in Ber-
ln relating the movements Of that court and we trust
that he may make them often, and full and oomJehen-
sve We recommend particularly the present to the
notice OF our readers
GENERAL CAss The action OF this distinguished states
man upon the lake harbor and river. appropriation bill
forms a prolific subject Of annadyersion in the whip