New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-01-11

The absence Of the hegemony, unity, and 20.
premacy, Row 80 feryeDtly advocated, saved the
Reformation from being throtted at ,ts birth, il
was Graded and nursed through the weakness of
childhood and youth among the various independent
members of the German Empire. Where would
Luther and his few frat followers have been without
Frederiekabd John ofSaxony, without the Landgrave
PHILIP and other defenders Time space, and con-
genial atmosphere are imperative requisites for the
growth of every production in the realm of mind as
well as in nature. All these necessary conditions
Luther and his followers found in the anti-bege-
monte condition of Germany in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries. This condition gave to the
Confession Of Augsburg and to its offspring, the
League Of Scbmalkalden, their political and inter-
national legal character. This character inspired
confidence, satisfied, and paci6ed many csnscienees,
and justified the combination of the Princes of Sax
eny, Ldneburg, IIesse, ADhalt, Mansfeldt, Bran
denburg and several free Cries, aud made the
league strong before the people generally. The
question Of the legality of the league sgtated the
conscience Of the nation deeply, and was discussed
by the most serious and impartial minds Of that
epoch. Luther, who was rather an absolutist in
politics, and who considered the German Empire
and the Emperor as continuation of the Roman
Empire and Emperor nevertheless conscientously
recognized the right of the princes to oppose and
resist the DEGREES of the Emperor and of the Imperial
Council. In Luthers opinion, and in that of many
cotempOraneous pubicists this right to resistance
was derived from the independent sovereign char
scter of the princes These rights, which were the
salvation Of the Reformation, are in principle and
in fact opposed to any hegemOny in any form what
ever.
The unity and supremacy of the royal power
was SO firmly established in France that it had be-
come a part of the political consciousness of the
majority of the nati9n. The considerations of the
HuguenOts, therefore, for obtaining and defending
freedom Of conscience in spite Of royal DEGREES and
roy al power-tbese considerations, although sacred
and just in principle, lacked legal copsecrahon. Ac
cOrding to the political condition of France, legality
was on the side of the Grown, and Legality always
exercises powerful influence on the actions and
conceptions Of the masses. So the Huguenots, sns-
tanned not even by provincial parliaments, were ac
cUsed dangerous TO the security of the State, and
their leagues as REASONABLE TO the supreme power
and the nation. The resistance OF the Netherlands
drew much strength from it's character of legality,
aud this Legality was derived from political cond.
ton in many respects similar to that of Germany
So, in the thirty years in the seventeenth
fury, the German Sovereigns could legally and JUS
t6sbly invoke the aid of any foreign Power and by
this aid resist and overcome the Illegal attempts Of
the Hapsburgs to curtail their rights of sovereignty
But any introduction of foreign assistance by the
French cOnfederates, either Huguenots or Catholic
Leagueists, was reasonable according to all legal
ideas and constructions.
The very high degree of mental development Of
the German mind secures to Germany similar
Standing in the worlds history. Nowadays all the
cultivated or concentrated nations draw largely
from that inexhAustible and ever-paying fountain.
The source Of this fountain became greatly en-
lsrged after the Reformation and the treaty OF
Westphalia, by which the union of Germany was
badly 4islocated. SOveregns and their States, most
Of them representatives. OF ancient tribes, moved
more and more IN independent OrDrs. 10 the oP-
parept confusion Germany owes that scienthc and
mental superiority fostered, nursed, elaborated in
her hundreds of high schools or gymnasia, and in
her numerous universities. The minute political
subdivision generated noble competition 10 the
creation of numerous educational institutions.
hepemony under any one State, and, still worse, a
thorough unity, never would and never could have
given such beneficial results. England, with all her
liberties and wealth, for centuries was not able to
multiply her educational institutions. Whet dis
proportion even now exists in England between the
population and the number of superior educational
establishments cheap and accessible to all classes,
ike those of Germany. Subdivision or federation
ia the generator Of the light, knowledge, and cul-
tare 80 generally dused liz the Free States OF the
American Union.
The princes. these various lessees Of Germany,
LIGHTED more or less brilliantly each bis different
poi,t and 80 the whole eGIice became better illa-
Minated 1t is because Germany has not an all
absorbing center to which all must converge, that
she has 30 many focuses radiatiDg with greater
force and eyoking mental life and activity. From
almost all points Of Der soil have shot out the most
yarieeated products Of mind. 1t would be easy to
enumerate legiODs Of names, all OF them autdorita-
five in the various realms of human knowledge,
science, or art whose maturity and produciyeneSs
have been fostered and secured by these local fscii
lies. the creations oil the decentralization Of Ger
many. In such political condition the German
mind has given high and manifold manifestations OF
self-couscious power and prOductiveness 30 it has
reached and taken possession of the genuine sum-
mits of the worlds history Hegel says truly, that
each world historical people has either It's speeiai