New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-07-04


concise and vivid sketch in this book was the
outcome of logical sequence of events. the in
evitablc climax-issuing in anti-cNmax-of
e series Of warning tendencies. To the German
Alliance "Bund.' formed before the battle of
Waterloo, whose affairs were administered by
a Diet meeting at Frankfort the Main, Ger
many owed the commencement of those reac-
tionary measures which were aimed at stamp
ing out all liberty and at the loading of the
people with incubus from which. at least in
the south, they had been freed under the Ma
poleonc regime. 1t was only on March 5, 1S4S,
that conference of men of liberal impulses,
principally from Baden, wurtemberg and
Hesse-Darmstadt, finally determined to estab-
lish a national parliament. To this end they
called preliminary parliament consisting Of
five hundred men, who met on March 81. This
was followed by the first German National AS
sembly which held it's opening session at
Frankfort on May IS The primary object Of
these patriots was to unite Germany the
adoption of a definite principle. Some insisted
on the foundation of a republic The majority
favored German unity under emperor. Then
came the setback. The King of Prussia de-
clined to accept the role allotted to him. That
twenty-nine Of the smaller German govern
ments acknowledged the binding force of the
new constitution awaited little in the face of
the failure Of the revolution in Dresden, in the
struggle of the movement
It is this fdeath struggle that Mr.. Dahlinger's
book is designed to exhibit. and it can scarcely
fail TO interest chronicling as it does the crux
of a stirring time. May 13, that memorable
spring Sunday, saw the outbreak of the revo-
luton in Carlsruhe. where the soldiers of the
Bodyguard Infantry Regiment burned their leg
gings. the unmistakable sign of revolt. That
day also was to witness the death. at the hands
- h. s-,e, nj.
late that night occurred the flight Of the Grand
Duke Leopold, the general staff of the army,
and the commandant of the city. Within the
next few days the remaining members of the
Second Chamber, at Baden, who, like their pred
ecessors. were considered reactionary by
the insurgents took their departure, and the
State Committee thereupon entered under Bren-
tano, who administered the oath in support Of
the imperial constitution. The committee was
fully organized as new governing body. AT
the close of the first week Mr.. Dahlinger in
forms us. the whole of Baden was afame with
revolution. Kehl. Heidelberg Mannheim. all
had new governments. By sunset on May IS
not regiment from Mannheim to Constance
remained loyal to the old rule. Despite all this
ferment however. good order appears to have
been maintained by the committees Of public
safety appointed by the revolutionists Even
the customs service and the postal arrange
proceeded
On May Is Friedrich Wilhelm of Prussia pub
lshed his well known manifesto, wherein he de-
clared war not only against the new government
of Baden, but against the National Assembly
at Observation-Disclosures Nevertheless, and for
all the opposition from the unfriendly German
States, the revolution seemed to be having things
very much its own way. An agreement was
secured for military union with the Palatinate,
whereby the Baden government was to control
the armies of both States and the people were to
he looked on as belonging to one country. But
If fortune followed for time in the wake of the
insurgents, the battle of WaghauseI on June u,
beginning in triumph and ending In disaster.
largely attributable 10 the treachery of Colonel
Beckett. set the tide of against them. 1t
marked, perhaps, the turning point of the revo-
luton Even Mieroslawski. the commander in
chief, admitted in his bulletin that the situation
was critical Indeed the high hopes of the revo-
lutionary army shattered. The com
mon soldiers. no less than their officers, knew
themselves to be surrounded on all sides by
overwhelming forces. It at dusk that the
earliest tidings of this portentious defeat were
received. First came vague indefinite rumors.
Soon swarms of fugitives arrived a
picture of rout and disor Ter In the widest
hurry, blackened with powder and dust. on
foaning horses, the different arms in motley
confusion, came cavalrymen. artillerists blouse
men and infantrymen, the expression of despair
their faces, and with the cry, All is Iostr -
The evacuation of Carlsruhe took place just six
weeks. TO a day. after the entry of the State
Committee. This the beginning OF the end
Ever since the battle of Waghausel the troops
had been talking of treachery. Defeat followed
defeat. After the final reorganization of the
rebel army at Rastatt and the fighting along the
Murg River came the collapse of the revolution
the retreat through the Black Forest and the
entry into Switzerland the surrender of Rastatt
and the execution of the leaders by the Prus-
slams
Seen in the perspective of time this revolution
appears to have been foredoomed to failure.
The deputies Of the people. only small part of
whom had been used 10 a simaorum of parlia-
mentary life. had 10 form a constitution for
thirty millions that had lived under scores of
different governments. under absolute" laws
and with free press The time was not ripe
for their enterprise. Mr.. Dahlinger records a
tragic and pathetic episode in the annals of Ger
many, mild though colorado imitation of the
revolution in France. He has acquitted himself
OF his task with great credit. basing his nara
tive thorough research. and setting il forth
with sympathy but well balanced judgment
Only at rare intervals is the reader made aware
of the breath Of political partisanship. The
salient facts are most effectively presented. We
realize clearly as turn these pages the days
confidence that ended in discontinue, the Black
Mondays which a few nights later were re-
viewed as angels entertained unawares. the
glorious failure5 and egregious successes the
Inspirations and the seemingly studied blunders
the heroism and cowardice, hopes and fears of
remarkable company OF patriots. We renew ac-
quaintance with the Turner societies, with the
levelheaded and boyish veteran, Schloeffel; with