The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-01-19
o , I = q a i r
Frederick William the Fourth, King Of
Prussia.

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Frederick William the Fourth, King Of
Prussia.
Frederick William w.. late King of Prussia brother of
the presiding monarch, and Of Frederick William III
and Queen Louisa born October 49, 1896 He studied
bellies ettres under De Bruck and Aucon the science
war under scharnborst and Knesebcck international law
and political science under savguy Ritter and IAnci-
zoe, and arts under Scbnkel and Rauch After having
seen In his childhood the sad spectacle Of the humiliation
OF the Russan monarchy, he was witness Of the re-
awakening Of Germany and, a simple officer, made the
campaigns Of 1913 and IA From frequent visits TO the
Paris Museum and, later from journey Rome, he
quired that ardent love Of thanks to which Prussia has
seen 50 many artists generously encouraged many
markable works undertaken at such expense, in the
castles Of harienburg stoltzenfels Notwithstanding
MS repugnance, while young man, for the absolutst
policy Of his father he called to the councils of
and STATE and at the death Of his father June 1s4
already welded great influence in public affairs.
The new King inaugurated his reign by number of
liberal measures which raised the hopes of the nation
He recalled to the ministry Messrs de Boyen and
Echhorn, surrounded himself with men the mos
distinguished in literature and art-Scheing
Ruckert neck, Cornelius Mendessohn- compensated
Herr Arndt and the brothers Grimm for the chairs which
had been taken from then and finally granted poltica
amnesty; but from thenceforward, however he re-
chanReableneSS
view, which finally characteristics of his reign
and which often caused his good faith to be sus
pected by the Prussian nation In ls4l in refusing to
the just demands OF the provincial States the
which had been promised them since 1915, he wished
to establish at least a system of periodicty
in those States, and the following year per
mted the General Councils 10 make representations
TO him. They protested firmly enough against the press
gag laws above all against the influence which the
King permitted the ultra religious party over
him, and against compliance which provoked the live
est agitation all Germany. Finally they loudly de-
manded judicial reform The King replied by promises
which seemed TO support his aversion every day more
decided, for the principles of the Holy Alliance and the
policy Of Metternich. For a while he was occupied
in concluding treaties of commerce with the
Low Countries, with Belgium, England and Portu.
gal; IN establishing railroads, in organizing and
governing the German zollverein, in embellishing
the capital and chief cities of Prussia amongst others
Cologne, where undertaken, by Of sabscrp-
lions, the completion Of the great cathedral.
In 1874 an attempt against his life by the Burgomaster
Tschech and some partial risngs the provinces caused
the King to reflect. At first he severe, and
strcted the liberty of the press within the narrowest
bounds The provincial Diet Of Prussia replied to those
measures by demanding constitution and the Estates
General S45); at the time the municipality pro
tested against the petsm of the King That parsonage
convoked synod, presided by the Minister Of
Public Worship, Echhon and ignored the pending ques-
tion. In place of political he created financial reform;
a bank established at Berlin with capital of ten
Millions and wise notifications made the Zoll-
tariff At the time a law was made creating
kings attorneys, nominated by the King presenta.
ton by the Minister of Justice In the teeth OF oppo.
stion press the Minister Of the King established the
government press, till then unknown in Prussia.
The year ls47 opened for the country the con-
sttutional government In consequence Of the repre-
sentation, always more and urgent of the
municipality and provincial diets, February 8
the King, by letters patent, convoked the General
Diet Of the States Of Prussia to deliberate on
all questions concerning the legislative power
its exercise &C. &c. The King, however, took
care TO announce that the monarchy was absolute
and the Chamber purely consultative "that between
people and himself there should constitution
paper Moreover, he created second chamber a
house Of lordsa kind OF conservative Senate The Diet
protested and at rejected two laws the relating
the Koengsberg Railroad the other concerning banks
and demanded, among other rights that of periodicy
The King yielded except this last point. The const
tuition revised in every particular and in liberal
Abroad, the King concluded commercial treaty
with Naples and the United States neutral in the
question Of the Spanish marriages protected the
II the midst Of these good intentions Kings
part and prosperity that OF the people, that the re
veluton Of 1s4S found Prussia In spite Of the King
promises the storm burst him the 18th OF March
and the struggle between his troops the people con
tinued ill the 10th He had to change his Ministry
grant general amnesty promise war against Denmark
in favor of Scheswg and salute from the balcony OF his
palace the dead bodies Of the insurgents These huma
ons were to extent softened by the hope Of be-
coming Emperor Of Germany AMI by the of his
generals who crushed the latest insuection OF Poland
in the duchy of Posen. He fastened the meeting
Of the General Assembly, modified his government still
more, in the liberal sense and occupied himself actively
with project OF electoral reform On tnat declaration
of the Assembly that he Prussian nation accepted the
revolution fact, but would always reject it prn
cipe," the people thought themselves betrayed, aud
outbreak occurred June L. and still another
August 81 Some days afterwards the National Assem-
bly, Of frankfort rejected the armistce OF Mamoe,
then to repent OF the concessions he had made,
and, after several ministerial crises, formed
cabinet, wholly conservative, at the head OF
which was Manteufiei made an appeal TO the army,
disarmed the civic guard and threatened the Chamber
ana the revolutionary party with coup edt November
1s4S). The Assembly and people united by their common
danger made common cause and kept up in the Capitol
kind Of permanent emee which lasted six weeks, and
was terminated by the grant Of dehntye constitution
on Decembeg 8, 1s4S, and By the dissolution OF the
Assembly. The new constitution, copied from that Of
Belgium, sanctioned individual and political liberty,
religious and educational liberty freedom of the press
without restraint the rremovability and Independence
Of the judicial power and the extinction Of the fdei
nssps and privileges II established the involabiy and
irresponsbly OF the King, his right TO dissolve both
chambers aud generally all the Prerogatiyes Of an
fed their satisfaction by enthusiastic response
10 the loan then opened by the King The elections
although made during the state of siege introduced into
the chamber constitutional majority, which the troops
easily dispersed by force. After this second coup ddt,
the King was enabled to eude the constitution without
suppressng H.
III the meantime, the parsans Of German unity offered
the imperial to Frederick William who refused II
coming from the revolutionists april %, 1870 He
after recalled the Prussn deputies OF the Frankfort
Assembly, and invited the Germanic governments
to antrovolutionary Congress, where the
work Of Capitalization was recommended 'by
parang the clements Of Reorganization At
the time he sent two armies into the Grand
Duohy Of Baden and the Paatnate TO crush the nsur
rection OF strive and Bentano and made peace with
Denmark In July Of the year. New Chambers
sembled in August, with ministerial majority, which
commenced assault on the constitution of the 9th OF
December. That constitution had had but little more
than years existence, when the King January, 1860,