New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1860-05-19
BERLIN, May 2, 1860.

After the conclusion of the peace of Vilafranca,
the Prussian Government, which for months had
Nattered itself with the idle hope of being ac.
knowledeed as the armed mediator of Europe, and
of rearing, upon the ruins OF the Hapsburg En-
pire. the edfce of Hohenzollern greatness, seemed
to have awakened to sense of the immense dan
gers looming in the future. Their policy, at once
irresolute yacillating, and perfdious, had lett
them without allies, and even Won Schleinltz,
whose long-winded dispatches had become a stand
ing joke with the diplomatic world, could hardly
conceal from himself the truth that so soon as the
internal state of France should again drive the
Man of December beyond the French frontiers,
Prussia was to be the predestned object OF an
other localized war.
Had not Louis Napoleon, in a moment of apps
rent openheartedness, dropped some words to the
effect that he knew what Germany stood in need Of
unity, that he was the man to impart it; and
that the Rhenish provinces would be not too
high prce for the purchase of so precious COM
modify. Quite true to the tradition of Prussas
rast. the first idea of the Prince Regent and
mercy of Russia. Had not Frederic William |.
acquired Pomerania by treaty of division con-
cluded with Peter the Great aganst Charles XII. OF
Sweden Had not Frederic III. carried the DAY III the
,eycp years war, and annexed Sllesia by the with
drawa OF Russia from her Austrian ally HAD not
the several divisions of Poland planned between the
Court of Berlin and the Court of Petersburg,
svelled out the dimnutive dimensions OF the Prrs-
sian monarchy Had not, at the Congress OF Vienna,
the unbounded seryility of Frederic William ILL.,,
who stood by Alexander |, when, in 1914, England,
Austria. and France showed some indication to
opposition and resistance, been rewarded by
tie annexation of SaxOny and the Rhenlsh
Provinces to Prussia Prussia IN one word, had
in its entertainments upon Germany, always en-
loved the patronage and the support of Russia, on
the express condition, of course, of helping that
latter Power to subject the countries bordering on
the fatherland and of playing the part OF its humble
vassa on the European stage In July, lSo9, the
Prince Regent and Alexander III, surrounded by
diplomatists generals and courers, met each other
al Breslau, there TO conclude a treaty, the articles
of which have, till now, remained an uniathom-
able secret not for Louis Bonaparte or Lord Pal
merstOn, but for Prussian Subjects whose
liberal representatives have proved themselves, Of
course much too polite to interpellate Herr Won
Sxhleinitz the Foreign Minister, such deli
cate question. This much, however, is sure, that
the Bonapartst press took fright at the Breslau
conference; that since then the relations be-
tween Russia and France have grown more osten-
tatiOusy intimate; that that conference did not pre-
vent Louis BOnaparte, either from selzlng upon
Savoy, or threatening Switzerland, and throwing
out hints upon some unavoidable " rectifcation OF
the Rhenisf frontiers" and, finally that Prussia
herself despite the comfortable prospect OF again
being allowed to form Russa's vanguard, has, IN
these latter times, eagerly seized upon the bait Of
an English alliance, only thrown out at London 20
amuse the British House of Commons for week
or two
However. Lord John Russel's indiscreet be-
travail in the shape of Blue Book, Of Herr Won
Selleintzs cOquetry with the Tlileries during the
last Italian war gave the deah-blOw to the Al 10
Prussia alliance, which the Prussian Government
considered for a moment as scheme really enter
tanned but which was known at London to be
nothing beyond phrase hiding Parliamentary trick.
After all despite the conference with Alexander III,
at Breslau, and Lord John Russels " search for
80 new alliances" Prussia now, after the treaty
of Viafranca, finds herself completely insulated
and singy exposed to the French theory of the na.
tuTa frontiers.
Can it be believed that under such trying circum-
stances the only expedent which the Prusslan Gov
eminent has hit upon is 10 renew its scheme of
little Germany with "a Hohenzollern at its head,
and, by the most nsOent prOvOcations, not only to
drive Austria into the hostile camp but to estrange
the whole of Southern Germany Yet incredible
as it may appear, and the incredible since this
line of policy is iervently recommended by the Boz
napartst press such 10 the ease. The nearer the
danger draws, the more anxious appears Prussia Ia
display her hunger for new division of Germany.
by the way, il is likely enough that after the blow
dealt to Austria Germany stands in need of a SINH
lar blow being dealt TO Prussia, III order TO get rid
of both the houses but at all events nobody will
suspect the Prince Regent and Herr Won Schlenitz
Of acting upon such pessimlst principles. Ever
since the treaty of Vilafranca the eanings of the
Regents policy have been betrayed in little press
skrmisbes and small occasional debates on the Ital-
ian question: but on the oath of April in the Prus-
sian Lower House, on occasion of the debates on
the Kurhessian question, the cat was let out of the
bag
have before explained this Kurhessian question
to your readers and shall therefore now limit my
self to explaining in few words the main points
upon which the debates turned The Kurhessian
Constitution Of 1881 having been destroyed by the
Arch-ElectOr in 1880, under Austrian auspices,
Prussia for moment affected desire 10 draw the
sword on behalf of the protesting representative
Chamber but in November, 1850, on the meeting
between Prince Schwarzenberg and Baron Man
teuiel at Omutz, when Prussia altogether surren-
dered TO Austria, acknowledged the restoration Of
the old German Diet, betrayed Schleswg IIolstein,
and recaned all her pretensions TO supremacy, she
also yielded her knight-errantry on behalf of the
Kun messiah Constitution Of 1881.
In 1852, the Arch-Eector octroyed a new consti-
tuition which was guaranteed by the German Diet,
despite the protest of the Kurhessian people.
Alter the Italian war; the question, on the secret
inSigatiOn Of Prussia, again m0Oted The
Kurhessan Chambers again declared for the va
lidity of the Constitution of 1881, and fresh petit
tons for its reGstablishment went up to the Diet
at Frankfort. Prussia then asserted the Consttu-
ton of 1881 to be alone valid but, she cautious
ly added it ought to be adapted to the monarchica