The Portsmouth inquirer. [volume] (Portsmouth, O. [Ohio]) 1849-1855, 1851-09-01
The Germans.

have been but two days wholly among
i the Germans, but had ,preyiously met mani
of them in England, Italy and Switzerland
They are seen TO the best advantage al home
Their uniform courtesy (saye in the detesta
BILE habit of smoking where Others canno
help being annoyed by their fumes indicates
not merely good nature but genuine kindness
Of heart, | have not seen German quarrel
! ing or scolding anywhere in Europe. The
Difference Of members Of the same family to
each Others happiness in cars, hotels and
steamboats,, has that quiet, unconscious man
ner which distinguishes a habit from holi-
day ornament The entire absence Of pre-
tense, Of stateliness, ofa desire to be thought
parsonage and not mere person, isscarce-
lly more universal in Switzerland sthan here.
But in fact / have found Aristocracy chren.
| ic disease nowhere but in Great Britain. In
France, there is absolutely nothing of it
there are nnonarchists inthat comtfy---mon
archists from tradition, from conviction,
from policy, or from class interest-but Of
aristocracy scarcely trace is left. Your
Paris boot-black will make yon low bow
| in acknowledgment of franc, ,---but he has
not trace of the abjectness of a London
waiter, and would evidently decline the hon
or Of being kicked by a Duke. In Italy,
there is little manhood but no class-worship;
her millions of beggars will not abase them.
selves one whit lower before Prince than
before any one else from whom they hope to
worm copper. The Swiss are freemen, and
wear the fact unconsciously but palpably on
their brows and beaming from their eyes.
The Germans submit passively TO arbitrary
power which they see not how successfully
to resist, but they render to rank or dignity
no more homage than is necessary--their
souls are still free. And their manners
eyince a simplicity and flankness which
might shame or at least instruct America. -
On the Rhine, the steamboats, are SO small
and shabby, without state-rooms, berth
rooms or even an upper deck-that the pas
sengers are necessarily at all times under each
others observation, and, as the fare is high,
and twice as much in the main as in the for
ward cabin, it may be fairly presumed that
among those who pay the higher charge are
none of the poorest classes-no mere labor
ers for wages. Yet in this main cabin we'll
dressed young ladies would take out their
home prepared dinner and eat it at their own
good time without seeking the company and
countenance of others, or troubling them !
selves TO see who was observing. A Lowell
faclory girl would consider this entirely out
of character, and New York miiliner
would be shocked at the idea of it. i.
The Germans are patient, long suffering
race. OF their forty millions outside Of
Austria, probably lesss than an eighth al all
approve or even acquiesce in the despotic
policy in which their rulers are leagued, and
which has rendered Germany for the present.
a mere outpost OF Russia-an unfinished Po-
land. These people are intelligent as well
as brave-they see and feel, yet endure and
torbear. Perhaps their course is wiser than
that which hot impatience would prompt
nay, ! believe it is. If they can patiently
suffer without losing heart until France
shall lave extricated herself from the tolls
of her treaCherous misrulers, they may then
iesume their rights almost without blow.
And whenever new l848 shall dawn upon
:hem, they will have learned to improve its
and avoid it's weaknesses and
blenders. Heavens speed its auspicious CONF.
ing ! Grtcieys Letters i. Tribuae.