The weekly standard., 1869-09-29
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| u a5 .fre.f isft ~ For the Standard.
OUR FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE.
| BERLIN, Aug. 25th, 1S69.5ai
| aThereis no State in ancient or modern
times, if we accept the American Union,
that has exhibited such rapid, and at the
same time so substantial development in
all repects, as the kingdom of Prussia.
Raised from an electorate to the dignity of
kingdom in the year 1701, it has increas-r
ed its area from 10, 900 square miles to 3d.
900; and its population has grown from
one and a half millions to twenty four mil.
lions. Before the coronation of the first 1
monarch at Koepingsberg, we find the same
remarkable expansion of territory under the
vigorous and enterprising house, Hohenzol
iCiu' W udI lS HOW Tile hluSuOUi Vi ITuSSld,
was in the time of Frederick vi Q41D the
Kurmark ;Brandenburg, with 1000 square
| miles and few hundred thousand inhabi-
tants These accessicns have taken place in
every conceivable manner; the falling in of
teuds upon the sovereign, purchase, ex-
change inheritance, occupation and con-
quest. -5.i t,,.. rt.. .as
The political progress of this kingdom is
no less worthy of our attention. Before
the adoption of the Constitution Q84S)
Prussia was an absolute Monarchy. As the
book of the law expressed it, the right to
make all laws and to provide for their exc
cution, ard to expound. alter and repeal the
same belonged to the King alone" 1t is
unquestionably true that the estates were
possessed, in theory, of the right to raise
revenue, and they not unlrequently embar-
rassed the action of their sovereign. But
their power was gradually broken down by
various causes, among which may be men
toned, the entire denial to the estates of
the right of armed resistance, the changed
mode of warfare, and principally the impe
rial theory of the civilians and court pub
licists, that the power of the Prince was ab-
solutely unlimited and lie might recall at
pleasure all the privileges and concessions en-
joyed by the estates and which, theoretical
ly at least, had been derived from the boun-
ty of the crown; claim which had
cost an English monarch his crown and
head. h.H ra eHH r=,.,i
But the question of Constitution had
been agitated before 1S48. The power of
Prussia was utterly broken in the battle of
Zena, QS06,) and the peace of Tilsit, in the
succeeding year, had reduced the kingdom
to one half of its former territorial extent
Prussia now experienced that the strength
of state does not consist in standing
army Or glorious history, but in its people
and in institutions corresponding to the re-
quirements of the age. In the year follow
ing the peace of rrilsit, the blow which Ma
poleon had given at Zena began to show
some practical results for the better
4 Freiber Won Stein was the chief of the Ad-
ministration. In November, 1S4S, he adj
dressed a circular letter to the principal
officials, in which he set forth the outlines
of his plan of a Constitution, and for the
administration of the government The
following are a few of the fundamental pro-
positions which he thought necessary to be
put into operation to save the state from I'M
pending ruin: t'..H 80 f-| Y...
"The last remnant of slavery, hereditary
serfdom, is abolished, and the doctrine that
the wiN Of free men is the strongest support
of every throne, is established"
LANDED privileges must be restricted"
'Patrimonial or feudal jurisdiction. ex-
elusive of the Kings courts, is abolished"
"a general national representation"
Upon the adoption or rejection of this
plan," said Stein, "depends the veal or woe
of our State Only by such measures is it
i possible to infuse life and yigor in the heart
of the nation.n
But the lesson of Zena was not sufficient
to ensure Prussia free constitution. Stems
plan did not meet with Royal favor. The seed
wanted to germinate forty years in the
brains of statesmen and in the hearts of the
people And in addition to this, the men,
orable times of 1S4S was necessary to bring
the fruit to perfection. l a.~ .lil
| The cloud of revolution was now QS4S)
ovcrcasting the heavens denser and darker.
Events were crowding one upon the other
France, Austria, Italy and Germany were in
a ferment In all the capitols of Europe
was disquiet and uproar. 1t was an anx-
ious day for princes. No one knew what
an hour would bring forth. In Berlin
were to he seen masses of earnest, danger
Gus looking men, parading the streets. Blood
had already been shed and an immense pro
cession followed the victims in funeral train
under the Linden. Was the play of the
French revolution to be reproduced on an
other stage? Something must be done and
there was no time to lose. The hard she'll
of conservatism, which Zena had not sufficed
to crack, gave way now.
On the 14th of March, 1s4S, was issued a
royal patent, calling the State Generals to
assemble on the 9th of April following, at
Berlin, to "devise means for the welfare Of
the German Fatherland in the present dan
genous condition of affairs" But time was
pressing. Four days later, on the 18th Of
same month, the King issued royal procla-
nation for the purpose of fastening the as
sembling of the State Generals, and called
them together on the 2nd of April Sunday
instead of the 9th, as in the first CALL This
proclamation concluded with an assignment
of the reasons for the call, among the prin-
eipal of which were the drafting of con.
stitution, and providing fora National Con
yention. Three days after his proclamation
on the 21st, the King published an address
to "the Prussian people and the German ma
tion," in which .the organization of a true
constitutional system, with responsibility o.
the Ministers the public and oral admins
tration of justice. the trial by jury in crimi
nal causes, equal political and civil rightG
, for all religious confessions and truly pop
ular and liberal constitution were indica
ted as the only means /" to secure the unity
, and security of Germany"
| The principal business of the States gen
eral was to provide for the calling of Ma
, tionaz Convention, which, together with the
, king, should agree upon a Constitution
and, in addition, to present the outlines o.
, a Constitution to the National Convention
which was to assemble for their adoption OF
: rejection. The States general sketched |
plan Of constitution and provided the fol
: lowing concerning the election of represen
tatives to the national convention, viz:
"Evcry Prussian, "a years of age, VIII,
,, has not forfeited his citizenship by his owl
act, is entitled to vote in the precinct wher,
he has resided six months before the elcc
ton, provided he is not a pauper and sup
ported at the public expense" The onl
qualification for representative was shirt
years of age" and y non forfeiture of civi
: rights "On account of crime" About ever,
10000 inhabitants chose one representative
The electors voted closed tickets; an actua
l majority of votes elected and the assembl
| itself verified tue returns. On the 22d c
May, 1S4S, the national assembly convene
l at Berlin, was opened by the king in person
constituted itself and began the work o
framing the Prussian Constitution.
a stll isdf fira BERNSTEIN.
zoos ----------------= ----------= I5nu -
-. bga Social Reform. yt
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