Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1870-10-03
KING WILLIAMS DANGER.
The Democratic Movement In Ger.
many--Need for wilhelm TO Heed
the storm.

Correspondence Of the Neue Frerie Presse.l
HANOVER. September 10.
can give you the following informa
tion from the best authority respectin,
the recent political arrests in Germany
which have excited so much attention:
The arrests effected yesterday il
Brunswick were directed at the member
of the Committee of the Socialist Demo
cratic Workingmen's Union, viz: A
Messrs. Bracke, jr., Bonhorst, Gralle
Kuhn and Spier. The cause of the ar
rest was the publication and circulation
of a manifesto proceeding from the com
mittee, and the arrests were made by
order of the Governor, General Vogel
Won Falckenstein. The prisoners were
conveyed under strong military escort
and handcufied Cd like dangerous crimi'
mails TO the railway station, in order, as
is supposed, to. be transported to Madge-
burg or Winden. In ike manner the
printer of the manifesto in question,
Herr Won Sievers, and former member
of the committee, Herr Ehlers from
Brunswick), were arrested in the course
of the afternoon, and were each carried
off bound to three policemen
The police searched the premises of
the committee and confscated a num-
Der of papers relating to their affairs,
including large number of printed
copies of the manifesto. In the even
ing strong military patrols marched
through the town, which was supposed
to be threatened, but had no occasion to
make further arrests or commit other
excesses, as the working men remained
perfectly peaceable. The incrimnated
manifesto contained a comprehensive
explanation Of the views of the union
on the present political situation, ex-
pressed the sympathies of the party for
the newly established French republic,
and demanded prompt and reasonable
treaty of peace with the present French
government, with an appeal to King
Williams proclamation that Germany
made war only with the Napoleonic
government and not with the French
people.
With regard to any contemplated an
nexation of Alsace and Lorraine, the
manifesto recommended that the in
tegrity of French territory should be
left untouched, as the annexation would
only make Western Poland for Ger
many, and induce new and bloody wars.
The conclusion of the manifesto urged
the German people to make the Prussian
barrack system more adapted to German
unity, by freedom for the German peo-
pie; and glancing at republican demon
strations in Spain and Italy, it expressed
the hope and conviction that, in spite of
the absolutism now domineering over
us, the time will some day come for Ger
many also to participate in the blessings
of q republic.
The manifesto preserves tranquil and
moderate tone throughout, and in ordin-
ary times, indeed even in the present,
the eye of any Prussian lawyer, however
vigilant, would hardly perceive anything
in it. General Falckenstein,
however, is no lawyer, and understands
much better the discipline of the military
art than that of the noble Lady Themis,
who said: 1.-THE commencement of the
war has nowhere in Germany had to un-
dergo rougher treatment than in the
government of Hanover"
This recent proceeding, however, indi
Gates the sensitiveness of the Prussan
government with regard to the question
of annexation. 1t is not impossible
that wink was given by the highest
circles, which easily explains such
step with regard to this displeasing ex-
preston of free opinion on this point.
Be this as it may, it is at any rate GER
tain that at present there exists in Ger
many no constitutional right of lawful
and free expression Of opinion. On the
other hand Her Won Schweitzer in
Berlin has, as matter of course, not
omitted to combat the French "bour-
yeois republic" and trail it in the mud
IN behalf of the King of Prussia.