New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-02-26
KING AND PEOPLE EN PRUSSIA.

KING AND PEOPLE IN PRUSSIA.
Il Is q common belief among the subjects Of
monarchies that the crown.prlnces wish to mp.
pear as Liberals, and nothing. in fact, is OF
more frequent occurrence in the history OF
princcy families. But still more frequent Is 1t,
Unfortunately, that tho hopes. raised by the
LIBERAL professions Of crown-prnces, arc sadly
disappointed upon their accession TO The throne.
one of the mos. striking examples OF tins iact
in modern times is furnished by the history o!
the present King Of Prussia. Few monarchs
have raised greater hopes than King William
+. When be ASSUMED the reins of the Govern
meut. in consequence Of the incurablo sickness
of the brother, the late King Frederica
William w., and appointed nc once new
Ministry, consisting OF tried Libcrasts, 1t was
arde0ty hoped, no. Only BY the people OF
PRUSSIA, but By the mass Of the German ma
ton that he would become the Victor
Emanuel of Germany, and that by his efforts
ts numerous Kingdoms aud dukedcms might be
finally united.
The Democracy, which had hitherto pro-
testcl against the actual Constitution Of the
kingdom as having been forced upon tho people
BIZ military despotlsln, and which had conss'
qucntIy taken no part i'll any election Tor the
prussian Parliament decided 70 abandon
their opposition, to acknowledge the Constitu-
ton. and to labor, only by such means
AZ this Constitution provided, for its i'm
proyement and for the spread of liberal pollt-
cal principles.
At tic first election Of the Second Chamber,
the Party of Progress-as the late Dc,nOcrailc
party now called itself--reappeared upon tie
political arena and, notwithstanding the IL
liberal electoral law, which gives to the wealthy
classes of the people immense advantages over
the middle classes and the poor, they succeeded
ia eecting a considerable number of candidates
though a minority. This minority, at n sub
sequcnt election, became a plurality. Still in
cons Iteration OF the great work which the Ger
man people had yer 10 perform md which re-
CURED tho hearty corporation OF eli the parties
desiring u national unity, The Party OF Progress
acted with the utmost moderation, aud, u.
union with most OF the oti,er parties OF the
Chamber, confined itself 10 tAo advocacy OF
such measures as would plant the RI ,hts, which
the representatives. Of the people enjoy IN every
constitutional monarchy, on u permanent basis,
and 30 endear them to the hearts of the peo-
pie as for ever to protect thcm from corp
deiafs and the entertainments Of tie ar.stoc-
racy.
Notwithstanding TIE moderation of this party,
the aristocracy succeeded in producing the
mind OF the King against them, aud in gaining
him entirely over TO the principles of the teuda
school which acknowledges only the divine
right of the hereditary monarchy and repre-
sents the principle Of popular severe nEy as the
worst If all heresics. Tie Liberal Ministry
was dismissed and replaced by ultra aristo.
Gratis Tie Chamber Of Representatives, with
q uuanimity almost unparalleled IN such assem-
blies, insisted on their right to control the reg
ulation of the budget. Beng unable to agree
with the Ministry, the Chamber was dissolved
toward the close OF last year with very marked
signs OF royal dspleasure.
The aristocracy considered this moment op-
FORTUNE Tor II new attempt to prevail upon tde
King 10 overthrow the Constitution BY a coup
Feiai. All the orgaus when are in their pay
denounced The Constitution and demanded
radical change. Tho clergy OF the two State
churches were instructed, with view TO Il
possible conflict between King and people, to
initilcate in their circulars unconditional loyalty
to the person of the King. From every district
in the Kingdom populations OF the "Conserya-
i've" party, which consists almost exclusively
Of persons dependent upon the Government Or
the arlsocracy, were sent 10 Berlin to assure
the King that the Second Chamber misrcpre-
scented the sentiments OF the country; ard that
the people would Loyalty abide by whatever the
King might see fit TO do in the matter.
The vanity of tho weak.minded King was
greatly fattered with these bosterous mani
iestatons of scrsle loyalty. lie accepted
with delight the donuncia,ion Of tho Chamber
and the assurances OF devotion to the mOnarch-
cal principle. He gave vent 10 his hatred of
the Parliament, aud even STOPPED 50 low as to
denOunco in public addresses individual mem.
bers Of tho Liberal parties. still-whether
from fear or from some remaining scrupes
respecting lis oath TO maintain the Constitution
there was al obvious reluctance on tho part
of the King to risk coup deiat. lie, on the
contrary, expressed his wish TO respect tho
Constitution, on tho condition, however, that in
all cases whore Government aud the Chambers
could not agree, the former should be free to
act as it pleased.
The attitude Of the Prussian people in this