The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-04-14
.FREDRIC THE GREAT

e,le 4 FREDRlC THE GREATwh
Z Ftedrc was a tyran, without doubt;
bu! an enlightened one, and in many re
spects a liberal one, lie had the seniir
mentofins'ice somewhat strongly devel-
.oped, although he would commit, now
and then, very urbitary and cruel actions
witness his treatment with Baron
Trench which, lei the prvdtion-Dcver
clearly understood--haye been what il
might. could moi have justified the atro-
cous, systematic, aud unintermitiing
persecution 10 which he was subjected.
Bnt nllowence ought to be made fol
frederick, il they are to be made for
any body, possessed Of SO much power,
and SO wholly irresponsible for the use
of it. 1t is surprising that the son oI
such a father as his could have had any
virtues a, albany feelings, OF honor, OF
juslce; and then he was an absolute
monatch-a position but litle calculated
10 foster and encourage viriuous propen>
siIier. He was greatly suppefior to the
crowned heads OF his day; and the aflix
of Great accorded TO him By his cotem-
poraries, was very appropriate then, and
the judgmen, OF posterity has confirmed
it. Napoleon, though little addicted to
saying flatiering things OF other majes-
ties s,adnired Frederic, visited his tomb,
fillibustered lis world and said 10 him
that il was pity SO great man should
ever die. Had Ffiiz, as his soldiers
called him lived and reigned in our lines,
ii is likely that he would have been as
superior as his crowned "brotbers" and
"sisters" Of the year 1854, as he was TO
those who fourishcd seventy or eighty
years ago. He hud- elements Of great
ness. in him; and, had he lived in better
and more favorable times, they would
have been more signaIy developed. it is
likely. Vollaire, who professed to hold
atheists in great conlemet-theugb but
little better then one hiInself--and who,
as Cowper says of him.
"BuIt God church md laughed his word to scorn."
regarded The king as an atheist, when he
was in a bad bumor with him. lie was
tolerant, however, and enforced tolera-
tons throughout his dominlons; which no
other monarch of his time did fully, we
believe. This, a, that day was much.
Fridrc has no equal, probable in some
respects-in fortitude and ienaciiy ol
purpose. Here Napoleon was his infe-
rior. He never lost heart, never despa>
red never recedcd, even when he carried
poison in his pocket as The dernier re-
sort, if future should declare against
him finally. Napoleon did Che same
Such war as he carried on against
more ,ban half Of Europe no other man
could have carried on, then, and it i:
doubtful We think, whether either Ma
poleon or Wellington could have done
so much, with such small means, compa
ratively.
We have been led 10 make these few
remarks about Frederic in consequence
! Of finding, in the London Times, letter
of his 10 his minister, Finukerstein, pnb>
lished recently al Berlin, in fac-simile
is dated Berlin, January 10, l757.-
This was very gloomy period Of the
war; and he tells his minister what he
must do, in case the French and Rus
slams should be successful against him
at certain points; and in it is the follow
ing remarkable passages
"ShouId I be killed, affairs are 10 be
managed as # nothing had happened,
without seeming 10 be in other hands,
Should I be made prisoner by the ene-
my, positively order that my person is
not to be at all considered, nor the leasv
attention paid 10 anything write while
a prisoner. Should such a misfortune
happen to mel intend 10 sacrfce my.
self for the state ;vand obedience mus!
then be paid to my brother (lhs heir
presump,ive,) for which he, and the
| Ministers and Generals are 10 answer
mo with their hends, that no ransom
shall! be offered for me, and that the war
lis to lie continued precisely as if | had
never exisied."'i ,,oe, IA, bao seises
| In ilis there is nothing dramatic, nc
affsc,ntions of patriotism and resolution
Es,imula,ed and not fel,,n The posture %