New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-11-23
THE P1OGREssIvB PARTY ~
81, GERMANY.

ptnuou ITO petutbio III OoubiI vi udtiouui unity
and liberal progress. Not that it had changed
its hostile attitude toward the snti.iberal policy
of the Governments of Prussia, Austria and
other German States; but, having regarded
from the beginning the cause of the two Daohies
as ono which from the standpoint Of popular
nationality ought to be decided in favor of Ger.
many against Denmark, they could not avoid
sympathising with the progress OF the German
arms and With the ultimate result, the epsr.
alton of tho Duchies from Denmark. This moro
apparent than real alliance with anti.bersl
Governments, produced for q time some ill-feel.
ing on the part Of some Of the leaders Of tho
Progressive party in other countries, fact
deeply To be regretted, az the greatest harmony
and unity in the ranks Of European Liberalism
are required to carry the war against the allied
Illiberal Governments to successful close.
The war being now over, the Progressive
pal& can resume, with as great vigor as ever.
.abOrs which deserve the attention and in
terest of all the friends of liberal Institutions
the more rs i'll no country OF Europe are the
legislatures 20 largely under the influence Of the
Progressive patty 40 in Germany. The friends
of progress are somewhat divided on the ques-
ton of Capitalization, some being federal
lists, Others centralists. The overwhelming ma
jority, however. of the German liberals are rep
resented by the National Verein," the organ
Of the latter party. This Society held its fifth
general assembly. on the 3lst Of October and
the following days, at Eisenach. Iii is remcm-
bered that in most Of the northern and middle
States the msjoritiss of Diets act in accordancs
with the principles laid down at the General
Assemblies Of the National Veren, its resolu-
tons on the policy Of the organization assume
great Importance AS was to be expected.
they hold fast " the great conquests Of German
democracy in 154s, tho German Constitution.
and the fundamental rights OF the German ma
ton as defined by the German Parliament OF
Frankfort. The National verein persists in de-
manding a German Parliament aud central
power, ~ which all the Governments and States
Of Germany shall be subordinate.
= Those resolutions lose nothing OF their i'm
portance by the circumstance that there is at
present no chance Of their practical execution.
The German Governments are unit against
the adoption Of the Constitution OF lsas, and a.
the majority Of tho Progressive party are deter.
mined to achieve their victory by moral rather
than csrnal weapons, they must be satisfied to
expect the realization of their national wishes to
<r r,ku Inv
not follow that the people will lore sight OF their
ultimate am It il, ON the contrary, certain
that the unsnimity Of popular opinion regarding
federal reform is becoming more visible every
year, and that one Government after the other
will SEQ the expediency of eoncilatingit by con-
ce.sions The aim of the Liberal party remains
the same; only the policy by which it is to be
attained may yet have more than once to DO
changed.
Several years ago the majority Of the different
sections of the Progressive party saw the neces.
sity of postponing for time all their party
suds, and of heartily uniting 10 solve first of all.
the national union question. The belief in tho
superior importance Of this question still remains
unchanged. but the opinion IL now gaining
ground that the way would be greatly cleared
Tor final victory if the minor States could DO en-.
tirely got rid of. The Federal Diet at Frank.
fort has during the late war again covered it.
self, in the eyes Of the whole nation, with ridi-
cule and ignomny. The representatives OF the
minor Governments had neither the courage to
associate with the popular party in opposing the
ambitious schemes of Prussia and Austria, nor TO
come to sny other determined resolution; and
thus they were the chief cause Of the entire sue.
cess Of the two great powers. No wonder thst
many of the Liberal party should begin to thns
that if the people had to deal only with two OF
three Governments, instead Of more than thirty.
it would greatly facilitate the contest We
should not be surprised, therefore, II the opinion
OF those German liberals were 10 become popu-
lar who either urge annexation Of the minor
States to Austris and Prussia, or q consolidation
Of the minor States with the exclusion of Aus
tria and Prussia.
Although In most Of the European countries
the contest between liberal and snti-libersl ten
denotes has for some time been marked By the
absence Of any revolutionary excitement it yes
continues to 10 very spirited. We shall, FROM
time to time, review the present aspects aud
prospects of this contest In the various eoun-
tries, for in its issue We are all deeply Interested
The history Of our foreign relations during The
last four years has taught us that IS the cause a
despotism and oppression is one all over the