New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-08-08
DR.. sOLGER,s PROTEST.

republican elements in Europe, to which, more
from personal consideration than any value we be-
lieye it to possess, we pay the compliment, which
our space and usage in such cases rarely permit US
10 expend, of an insertion.
We find in the letter Of DR.. SOlger not sylla-
BILE 70 shake our conviction that selfgovernment
under the federal system, and not unity with its
centralizing results. is the only sure foundation
Of genuine Republic If no nation in Europe
can appreciate this truth, or in her institutions
give il practical action, then we fatty assert the
impossibty of establishing a stable Republic
in the Old World. As to the structures OF
DR.. Seleer upon our estimate of the statesman
shin of the Professors who took the lead in the
German National Assembly, we do not regret that
be affords us the opportunity of strengthening a
position, already impregnable, with yet few more
strong corroboratiye facts.
When that Assembly elected by the people
took into its hands the reins OF resolut 0D, or
rather commenced the work of Germanic regen-
erstion. its influence st the start was Dearly
omnipotent and gathered 10 the whole nation.
The masses, the greater portion OF the military
and officials in tie various States, in one word
nearly two.thiris of the population, hung with
brtathleis suspense upon the dOings at Frank
fort, ready to fulfill The biddirgs of that body;
hut vigorous, decided action was found wsn.ingi
the majority lighted their torches and wandered
forth in search of a new BarbarOssa, lOsiIg the
precious hour and thus enabling princes, and
arstocrats and all thst brood 20 recover from the
first stunning blow, and rise TO grasp again their
lost positions. Was this craftsmanship Again,
the leaders of the majority, mostly professors,
early in lSi5 when the national enthusiasm
was most intense, began their action by crushing
the republican effort at Baden, headed by
Strive and Herwegh They effected this at
that time, not with Prussan and Austrian
troops, but with those of Wuctemburg, acting
under German colors and commanded By Gen.
erals such az Gsgern, nominated b. the Assem-
bly, or its Ministers. Again, they prosecuted the
republican refugees who e.3sped to Swltzer"
lsnd, sending for that purpose to Berae one OF
the most eminent members Of the moderate
Left. In this way originated the bitter animos-
iiy between the professors surrounding the then
all-gowerful Henry Gagern, supported by Dahl
mann, Welcker and others, and the extreme
Left or Radical party, under the leadership OF
the immortal Blum, Prof. N0gs and others
there being even among the professors some
eminent exceptions to old-fogyism. With troops
from Darmstadt, acting by the orders OF the
Ministry formed from the Center or sO-cilled
moderate portion of the Assembly, the rising OF
the people around Frankfort was suppressed,
scarcely giving time 10 the insurgents 20 take sat
isfaction on the person of Prince Lichnowsky
the leader of the Right and bitter yilifier of
the democratic masses.
The professors who sent Welcker as their rep
resentatiye to Vienna had neither the sense to
ton tbc murder Of Blum nor to ayenge it, refusing
''OP .no -arliamentary hOnors TO his memo
even ."e u'uS p "a associates This Center
~, when called for by Ia.
Of the Assembly, this learned PROFESSIONAL asgiOm.
Grafton, under the absolute guidance Of the re-
nowned Radowitz, led Germany into the mire and
then left her to wsllow there forming the materials
for the celebrated Pact of GOtha, which in 1919,
sounded the death bnell Of German regeneration
If with all these facts in view we are not justified
in refusing to the PROFESSIONAL brains the possession
of a spark of statesmanahp, it would be difficult
to conceive by what evidence any conclusion could
be established.
The Prussian bureaucracy neither was nor is
now the exclusive seat OF absOlutsm. Such whole
sale condemnation is as unjust as it is unfOunded.
Forming large body, it must, like all other such
communities, have its share of good and bad but
the bureaucracy forms no caste, nor s it based on
any privilege it cannot, therefore, bear in sound
logic the comparison to which our correspondent
subjects it, with the Slave Oligarchy in this
country The officials are usually recruited from
the middle casses-the sons OF professors, Of cer-
gymen, and Of farmers. All of them must go
through course of preparatory study at some
University. The most patriotic and revolutionary
creations ofPrussia-the Tusendbund, and the cree
ton of millions of small freehOlds out Of the estates
Of the nobility-were both the work Of the bureau
cracy. Bad individual samples can give no idea Of
the whole. Individuals have been expelled from
Office; some for opinions deemed dangerous,
others for certain scsndalOus conduct, esteemed
virtue amor MormOns, but in civilized society
a crime and reproach. Vast numbers of func-
tiOnaTies ofvsrious Government branches-above
all holders Of inferior administrative posts, as
LGadraths or sub prefects-were penetrated by
the spirit Of revolution in 1913. Judges, assess
ors and presidents Of Judicial courts, as well as
other officials, belonged to the extreme party in
the Prussian Assembly, and the parliamentary
leader of the Republican faction in Berlin was
one of tee most eminent judges Of the O5sr- De-
hahn Tribunal, the supreme court Of the king
dom. There was more of the revolutionary
spirit among the officials than even among the