New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-01
FREDERIC THE GREAT.
VIEWED BY AN AMERICAN HISTORIAN

1885, l2ms. pp xiv. sos xii 334 Hsughton.
Mniin Co.
Those who have read Professor Tuttles first vol
ume Of the History of Prussia" will have learned
to expect from him sober, painstaldng and thor
ough investigation OF materials. and clear we'll
arranged but not brilliant narrative. The two
volumes just issued cover the period from the
accession Of Frederic to the beginning OF the
Seven Years War. In his preface Professor Tuttle
explains that he expects TO complete the history
In two more volumes making FIVE in all. Re
marking that the great name of Carlyle is asso-
ciated so commandingly with the reign Of Frederic
the Great that any other writer who ventures to
treat the same subject is bound to make good in
advance his claim to o hearing the historian
points out what he considers full justification Of
his undertaking. Carlyle, he asserts, did not
make q really exhaustive inquest into the au-
thorities. He left the Prussian archives, for
example quite untouched. Moreover since he
wrote, "a vast literature" has grown up on the
subject, and great deal Of entirely new evidence
has been made available. Beyond this lies the
not unmportant consideration that Professor Tut
tie is writing history Of Prussia under Frederic
the Great whereas Carlyle concerned himself
mainly with the personal history Of the King.
1t cannot be denied that In choosing his line Of
research Professor Tuttlc has put himself at q
certain disadvantage so Ear as the popular ele-
ments Of such work are concerned: though 1t
must be admitted that he has at the same time
avoided such direct comparison with Carlyle as
could not have had the most fattering results
for himself. The picturesque and dramatic have
been handled by Carlyle in his history Of Frederic
that no later writer however otherwise reinforced
by new knowledge, can hope to reach the same
level Regarded rs literary performance, there
he Car history a
masterpiece. For brilliancy Of color for graphic
drawing for effective portrait painting for quaint
ness and shrewdness of comment for vigorous
pursuit OF the central thesis il is unrivalled save
by the same authors French Revolution" But
is by no means so clear that il is trustworthy
history. Carlyle set out to illustrate favorite
theory, namely, the superiority OF an intelligent
and benefcent absolutism over the democratic
form of government. Professor Tuttle is quite
right in saving that in order to show just what
Frederic was and did, It is necessary to examine
the effects Of his civil gover.n,ent quite as care
fully his foreign policy and his fortunes in the
field Carlyle, however, had not the means of
making such investigation, or he neglected
them. Perhaps his lifelong aversion from " the
dismal science" as he called political economy,
may have influenced him in this; perhaps too,
he was not anxious to bring to light facts which
Coercion.
Professor Tuttle has however, pursued his re-
searches with German thoroughness and much
more than German tat least Prussian) impartiality
The principal histories of Frederic's time are
naturally German and, also naturally, they are
more or less marked by national bias. The Eng
lsh histories are similarly influenced. The Cor
nell professor has for the first time attempted to
write history which should be free from preju-
dice Of this character. That he has succeeded In
putting many things in new light is certain.
and his dispassionate analysis of Frederio's
motives and actions tends TO reduce the proper
lions Of that rulers greatness. Carlyle has en-
deavored to soften Of the ugliest features Of
his early diplomacy. but stripped Of all palliatives
it appears in this work rs thoroughly dishonest
and unprincipled The seizure Of Silesis in the
first instance of course an utterly lawless act
of spoliation, and perpetrated under condi-
tons which gave it specially repug-
nant and ignoble aspect. II is true
that the conduct Of nearly all the European
powers to Maria Theresa at the time was most
treacherous, mean and contemplate but this in
no way lessons the guilt of Frederic who must
be held to have seized the province in question
impudently and dishonorably.
But whoever undertakes to maintain the great
ness Of this sovereign must begin by recognizing
his vices, which, IL TO some extent they were
those of his time and station, were magniied In him
far beyond the average Of his peers and con-
tempOraries One compensation must be admitted
He did not assume virtues not possessed By him
He was not hypocrite, and his contemporaries
were. Only less ready than he to employ men
dacity, chicanery. bribery, treachery, for the at
tainment of political and dynastic ends, the other
Governments added to the odiousness Of their
depravity a canting pretence Of honor which
only intensified the effect Of their immoral pro-
ceedings Frederic never pretended to believe in
honor and good faith between nations. lie openly
held that everything was legitimate in diplomacy,
politics and war; and he simply practised what
he held His frank cyncism doubt seriously
alarmed his less candid neigbbors, but it was only
in regard to abstract cynicism that he was frank.
One consequence of this prevalent governmental
duplicity and per6dy is that the history
Of the time is perfect tangle OF
intrigue, in which everybody is seen to be
trying to deceive and caiole everybody else; in
which no Government treats any other with
probity: in which brides are continually passing
from hand to hand, ard each sovereign IS doing
his best to corrupt his neighbors' ministers, while
the same venal influences are at work upon his
own.
All this however, is . twice-told tale, and 1t
Is with freshening interest that we follow Pro-
lessor futile in his examination Of Frederic's
work of domestic reform and reconstruction dur
ing the peaceful decade which interviewed between
the second Silesian War md the Seven Years
War. This work was indeed rather an expan.
sion of old lines than an invention upon new
ones The general system developed by Frederic
the Great had been In existence for century.
The rise of Prussia depended upon the entire
subordination-it might almost be said, upon the
extnction-of ndi, idualsm IN the people Every
thing was sacrificed to the army. 10 secure
solidity to the State caste was maintained rgdly.
The separation between the nobility and the
populace was absolute. No tradesman or peas
ant could hold a military commission. No agri-
oulturist could take 10 trade no tradesman to
agriculture The main object OF the State was