The New York herald., 1874-11-02

charged with their execution. This resistance
continued for long time. and was principally
prompted Dy the Burgomaster or Mayor. an able,
independent and energetic man. VINO In.
CURED the bitter hostility OF the Eiector
by his patriotic endeavors Finding all other
efforts 10 reduce the city to submission
unavang, and dreading collision with Poland
II he had resource TO lorce, Frederick william
proposed TO the Burgomaster an interview,
without the town walls, as means OF de-
vising some method OF settling the diflculty.
The unsuspecIing citizen readily consented, but
had no sooner placed himself IN the power OF his
treacherous enemy than he was seized and con-
veyed 10 strong castle OF the Electors. who Kept
him prisoner for the rest OF his life, nor would
he ever grant him his petition be brought before
the courts there to be tried for whatever crimes
he may have committed Alter his capture the
Eect0r found less dithculty in gaining over
party among the other Durghers and finally OBJ
tanned possession OF the city opon his own terms.
SLl more Mgh-handed were his proceedings In
The CASE OF LUDWIG Won KALKsTEIN, SHERIFF OF
OL1rzKo,
who had onended him in o singular manner by
conveying complaint from the Assembly OF
knights OF the Province Of Prussia to the King OF
Poland against his lnfringements OF their prlvil-
eyes. Frederick william first attempted to obtain
his extraditon by representing to the
King Of Poland, through Eusebius Won
Brandt. his Ambassador at that Court, that
Kalkstein had forged the credentials he had ex-
hiDited as deputy from the Knights. Kalkstein
had no dificulty In demonstrating the utter alb
surdty and utility OF this charge and the Elector
then adopted bolder plan to silence him, by hav-
ing him kidnapped, bound, gagged and wrapped
IN carpets, IN which manner he was transported,
IN the shape OF \ bale OF goods, over the ir0ntler
to Konigsberg. where he was tried upon
trumped-up cnarge OF treason ana beheaded IN
the year 1910.
THE EXCUSES.
1t may be said that in young State undergoing
the tnroes Of sudden transition from the law
lessness OF the ieudal system to the systematic
and welLOrdered polity OF o modern monarch1cal
government such incidents OF occasional oppres-
sion are inevitabe-nay, are, In fact IN the end
conducive to the wel-being OF the very classes
against whose happiness they At first appear to
mihtate so we viii pass over q period OF sixty
years and f2d ourselves In the year 1880 under
the reign Of King Frederick william, grandson Of
the ''Great Elector" and second King Of Prussia.
The state has gone on prospering; 1t has been
peaceful at home and commerce, manufac-
ture and agriculture have been steadily
and even rapidly increasing, while abroad It's
armies have acquired renown Tor valor and
discipline which give iair promise OF greater
victories to come IN future years. Prussia Is now
fully recognized as forming one OF the comfy OF
nations rs much go as France or England. Surely
no exceptional measures are now needed. both
King Frederick and his son, the reiRning monarch,
having bestowed the greatest attention on the re-
form oi the law courts and most carefully selected
the judges VINO are to preside over them, 1t Is i'm
possible that any pretext can be found for per-
sonal interference on the part OF the sovereign.
ABOUT the year 1871 two cases were tried before
two different tribunals,
ONE AT K0RNIGsBERG TIE OTHER AT PoTsDAM
At Potsdam Q soldier, one OF Frederick's cele-
brated giant grenadters, had murdered girl, his
mistress, under circumstances OF great brutality
and without any sufficient prOv0cati0n. He was
tried. 1t being time OF peace, before the Criminal
Court OF that city and. no defence being possible,
was condemned to be hanged. The decision was
sent the King for ratification he receiving 1t,
new into o most violent rage, sent lOr the judges
and abused them personally in the gr0ssest manner.
swearing that they should never hang any OF MS
grenadiers He then caused the soldier to be
turned over to the military authorities. who SEN
fenced him to three months imprisonment.
Nearly at the same time one Schlubhut, q public
oficial employed In some capacity IN the fiscal
administration or the city OF K6nigsberg was ac-
cused Of defalcattOns amounting to the sum OF
ll,000 thalers taboGt $4,000. He admitted having
mlsapproDriated the money, but claimed that he
had only wished to use 1t Tor time. and that he
was amply able to refund 1t, wnicn 1t appears he
was. Alter several appeals the case was carried
up to the Royal Supreme Court, at Berlin. which
seems to have considered Ssnlubhut as guilty
more OF cupable carelessness than OF any wiltully
premedttated breach oftrust, and besides ordering
him to make good the money, sentenced him 20 be
imprisoned for four years-a punishment which
they thought would amply meet the exlgencies
Of the This sentence. ike the last, was sent
to Frederick William for his signature.
It excited his wrath ana disapproba.
sion IN an even greater degree than
the last, though nom very different motives. He
now denounced the leutty or the judiciary as
much a. he had formerly condemned their
severity. He was determined schiubhut should
be put TO death, and pursued hls purpose 70 re.
lentlessly that tho judges, thoroughly intmidsted
BY nts threats. wnich they well knew he was capa.
BILE OF putting into execution, at length gave way
and pronounced the required judgment. The IN.
fortunate man was hanged on q gallows Of ex.
traordinary height before the windows OF the
Treasury building at Konigsberg, and 1t was some
years before the members ot that department.
could obtain from the inexoraDe King the re.
moval OF the gtbbet, which reminded them so
painfully Of the disastrous fate OF their late col.
league. or course in both these oecisions the
King was actuated by purely egotistical motives.
He considered the soldier as simply his personal
property, which he would have lost had the sen.
tence Of the law been carried out, while in the
other case his money had been stolen, 80 It was
but right the offender should be maze terrible
example OF. Leaving out Of sight the grotesquely
repulsive character which pervades the two trials
related above, and which Is incidental to the
character OF Frederick william who carried his
eccenrrcities to positive brutality. we may trace
in them curious analogy to the two causes
celebres which have 30 recently been occupying
the attention OF the Prussan government, the
mode OF proceedings adopted against
CAPTAIN WERNER, OF THE NAVY, AND COUNT Won
Both were accused Of breach OF the rules OF
diplomacy, for It is absurd to view Count Arnim's
offence In any more serious lgnt and both are
supposed TO have given onence to and incurred