Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1866-07-17
NO. 46.
Prussia.

Prussia is the youngest of the great Euro
pean States. Two hundred years ago the
chief of its reigning. .house hardly ranked with
the Electors of Saxonys and Bavaria. Its
possessions were limited, and its territory CON
sisted mostly of forest sand and marsh. /.
was only in theyear 100 that the head of
that principality aspired to the title of King.
and the Elector of Saxony, which has lust
fallen into the hands of Prussia without an
effort at resistance, refused at first to ac.
knowledge thenevE Majesty. The other mon.
archs of Europe, looked down upon him some
what assa defendant of the Norman mobiles as
England boks down upon the new men en-
nobled on account of their money. Blu.
Prussia IS only another illustration Of the ma
ny which history affords, that to the moral
characteristics father than to physical alvan-
taSes are due the true growth and glory of
people. The most influential States have of
ten been those where physical disadvantages
most strengthened those characteristics. Tho
spur OF necessity dsvelopes the very ercrov
which, transferred to mere Generous soil
remains dormant and unproductiye. The
geographic position of the Prussian terrific
y VS. as unproniiSing for military security
as its soil for agricultural production 1t was
long, scattered, struggling, protected by nei-
ther waters nor hills, apparently an easy prey
to any enemy who might desire to invade it.
When the Great frederic was menaced by
the most formidable confederacy which En-
rope had seen for ages, embracing a popula-
ton of hundred millions, the people of
Prussia were not FIVE millions. How they
emerged from that war, and the progress
which the country has since made in art,
science and civilization are familiar to all.
1t was only by means of strong military
~
tary disadvantages of her geographical posi-
ton and small population. The father of
Frederick kept up peace establishment of
sixty thousand of the best disciplined troops
of Europe. The son converted Prussia into
one vast camp. He made the nation, as has
been aptly said, call sting" A seventh part
of the able bodied men were under arms, and
drilled to perfection then unknown on the
continent, and perhaps never since surpassed.
With only one fifth the population and one
fifth the revenue of France, Prussia kept on
foot as formidable army. The harshncss
and savagery with which it was governed is
almost incredible. Whilst permitting great
liberty of speech and writing among civilians,
the cane and stourge were SO cruelty used
upon the soldiery that death itself seemed
preferable. The lenity with which Frederick
treated the community, the disdain with which
he treated lbellerS and malcOntents, might
tie proftably initiated in our own times
When he was told of the disafFection of one
of his subjects, he merely asked, "How many
thousand men can he bring into the field ?''
On one occasion he saw crowd staring at
scurrllous placard which had been posted upon
wall SO high that it was not easy to read it,
The king ordered his attendants to uut it
lower. MY people and l." he said, ''have
come to an agreement which satisfies us both
They are TO say what they please, aud 1 am
to do what L please" 1T another time, a
bookseller sent to the palace copy of the
most scorching abuse that was ever written.
and asked for his majesty's orders. s'Do not
advertise it in an offensive manner" said the
king; 'but sell it by all means"
The plunder of Austria is a principle of
natioDalpolicy and growth, legitimately inher-
tied by the present King of Prussia from the
Great Frederick. There is nothing as rapacious
and shamelss in Count Bismarck's schemes of
spoliation as the aagitous robbery of Siliesia.
Such violation OF plighted faith has rarely
been equalled in the annals of national inius-
tice. That there was no justification of it.
Frederick admitted in his own Memoirs:-
Ambition, interest, the desire of making peo-
pie talk about ME, carried the day and 1 de-
cided for war" But in the war which ensu-
ed, and still more in the ''Seven Years War"
the continent was taught to regard this little
power as formidable enemy and valuable
ally. Assailed by France, Austria, Russia,
Saxony. Sweden and the Germanic body, the
five millions of Prussians, guided and inspireI
by the genius Of their great King, came forth
from that protracted contest, unconquered by
a Continent in arms.
For such people there must be great
Future. Their military organization is still
unrivalled, except by that of France. IfPrus-
succeeds in obtaining the seaport of Keil,
she will become great naval as well as milf
tary empire, in fact power of the first class.
Her energy, audacity and practical character,
are suspicious of great things hereafter.