Randolph County journal. [volume] (Winchester, Randolph County, Ind.) 1855-1862, 1858-08-12
Albert Lange, Esq.

having been born in the town OF
I.andsb,ug. upon the Wsuha river,
some eighty miles east OF the city Of
Berlin, the capital of Prussia, on the
10th day of December, ls0l. His
parents dying when he was small
boy. he was placed under the guard
ianship of a good man, who was a
clergyman in his native town. and he
was soon afterwards placed in a col
lege situated near Zullichs, a small
village near the northern frontier OF
the Prussian Province of Silesia.--
Being possessed of strong. active
mind, the young pupil advanced with
great rapidity, and after six years Of
hard study, left the college a prof
cient in all the branches usually taugh,
in such institutions, besides speaking
the German and French languages
correctly. and having critical famil-
iarity with the Latin and Greek. At
the close OF his College term, and after
lsost rigid examination which lasted
five days, Mr.. Lange received from the
examining committee, certificate OF
'motming uifh distinction" This
coming from one of the best German
institutions, was mark of proficiency
indeed to be coveted, and with it at
the age of Is years, he repaired to the
University. to devote himself to one Of
the learned professions. At this time
Mr.. Lange was an excellent mathe-
matician, and proficient in the
languages-could read with ease the
Hebrew Bible, the Greek poets and
historians-almost knew the Latin
poets by heart, and was familiar with
French and German literature.
After leaving this institution he
entered the University at Halle, where
he studied law for abou. three years,
and it was while there he formd the
acquaintance of many of the most
intelligent and intellectual young men
of the country. Their accidental
fellowship ripened into a warm and
intimate friendship. They formed
among themselves club. where the
subject of government political econo-
my, and public education were treated,
in lectures, and debated during their
sittings. Being young men Of learn
ing and research, they could not but
go back to the first principles Of
government, and doing this, they soon
discovered that the government Of
Europe, differed widely from those
which derive their '.just powers from
the consent Of the governed" Inde-
pendent in thought and enthusiastic in
purpose, these young men were alive
to the iniquitous despotism which
crushed Europe. and especially Ger
many, and they resolved to do all in
their power to put an end to it, and
for that purpose entered into con-
spiracy to overthrow the thirty-two,
big and little tyrants of their native
land. and establish one free, Republi-
can. constitutional government. This
was in 1892. The suspicious Of the
government were aroused, these young
men became the object Of especial
attention, by its police and agents, for
years. In the beginning Of 1924,
while Mr.. Lange was member Of the
bar in his native town, and when the
conspiracy was extended into every
quarter, and was we'll matured, and as
che blow, wh!ch was about TO give
freedom to the people was just being
struck, more than 800 arrests were
made all over the country. Tyranny
triumphcd, and equal rights went
down.
They were tried for high treason,
and condemnedto to imprisonment, vary
ing from one to fifteen years, owing tc
the influence exerted, and the leading
part taken by each one Of the con-
! spirators. Albert La. ge's term q
Imprisonment was fifteen years-th,
highest punishment fixed upon any
one of them.
In confinement he surrounded him
self with books, and Immediately
commenced the study of the English
language, and in three weeks time HI
could read Shakespeare without the aiC
of dictionary, and the first year o
his imprisonment, he added to th'
works of the immortal bard, those o
Goldsmith, Smollett, Fielding, Coop
or, Walter Scott, Byron and others
In 1880. having been released from
further confinement, and being deter
mined to live only under institution
where freedom is universal and equa
rights guaranteed to all, Mr. Lang
left the home of his birth and came I,
the United States. He sacrifices
position which was offered him
wealth and influence, which his famil,
possessed, and ali the endeaIments O
h1,a Lee ,.-lo- A. .,a,,o,oo n