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Leader (1850-1860), 11th September 1858, Edition 1 of 2, Page 929, Untitled Article

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      which may make war preferable . General dissatisfaction at home may become so . threatening that , to preserve his throne , the Emperor will resort to war to occupy the public mind , and then will play his last card . It is to this extremity that the coalition I have mentioned are seeking to drive him , and I ask Mr . Roebuck , and those who think with him , will they allow themselves to be made the unwitting tools of heartless political traders and of the enemies of all freedom to bring about such a disastrous state of things ? The preparations for defence which Mr . Roebuck called for may be needful . England ' s prosperity , internal peace , arid freedom have made her many enemies , and the very greatness of her position forbids her laying aside the sword and buckler ; but surely she may arm without roaring out defiance to the world , or telling her allies she looks on them as no better than burglars .

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      GERMANY . { From our own Correspondent . ' ) September 8 ; In my last communication I imparted my view of the state of popular mind with respect to the rulers . I shall now venture a few remarks upon the intrinsic value of popular mind itself : perhaps my observations will enable your readers to form a correct opinion as to the consequences that will ensue should a convulsion take place , and find the governments as torpid and despotic , and the people as eager for civil disenthralment and as politically imbecile as at present .

      Germany , like every country despotically governed , is indebted for its position and renown mainly ,-if not entirely , to its princes—not that the people were or are less capable than free nations-of becoming . great ' through themselves , but that the opportunity has hitherto been denied them . Whether they never possessed civil liberty in times of yore , or whether they did and have since lost it , this is not the place to inquire ; suffice it that , setting the dubious account by Tacitus aside , from all we can learn through history and tradition , ttiev were , formerly , in a more servile condition

      than they are at this day . The ., civil rights they now enjoy have either been granted , or allowedly the rulers ; they are not acquisitions gained by the prudence and patriotism of their forefathers or themselves ; what they possess in material and intellectual wealth , such as it is . they owe to these very princes whom they wish to destroy . Germans , however , think that their country would have been politically , commercially ,. and intellectually greater if their forefathers had been wise , brave , or fortunate enough to tear asunder the leadingstrings which now disenable their posterity from walking alone . -

      What the Bourbons did for France the German princes have done for Germany , with this advantageous difference , that whereas the Bourbons , by uniting all the various races of Gaul under one head , concentrated the intelligence of all at Paris , leaving the provinces in ignorance , the princes of Germany , by retaining their independence , have been enabled to set up a shining light in the shape of a miniature metropolis in everj- quarter of the land , spreading polite manners and making the remotest nook and corner acquainted with art and science . But , and here is the point , they have spread nothing but art and science , which appear to be quite compatible with despotism . Education , or rather a-b-c-ism , is not merely encouraged , but thrust upon the people . It is

      compulsory , and it is their boast that they arc , upon compulsion , the most accomplished people in the world . Now , although it would bo hard to find a young German peasant who has not received instruction in reading , writing , cyphering , geography , and history , from teachers appointed by the Government , examined by the Government , and perhaps educated in a Government school , yet , as there is no such thing as political discussion—neither freedom of the press , nor freedom of speech being permitted—it would bo just as difiicult to find one -who comprehends anything whaievor about civil and religious liberty , or could bo made to understand that the authorities arc his servants , not his masters . Heroin the most illiterate stripling in England or America is superior to the learned German . But , although they are not clear upon the subject of political liberty , and are totally incapable of working out freedom

      for themselves , still thov aro mndc to feel that there is a patriotic work for them to do ; and they will try to do it . That work is to removo the obstacle to their union . That is all they boo , the rest ia to them a blank . Notwithstanding this political imbecility the Gormans arc , in my opinion , the onl y groat people of the Continent fitted to receive , and tho only people that would peaceably © njoy , « tlie . hi ghesfc-dogreo ^ ot ^ Iv 1 ^ mains with the pvlncos , by abolishing all restrictions , and granting perfect oivil llborty , to make Germany a splendid examplo to all tho nations of the Continent , If not of tho world . In their present state tho people have only tiiQ power to pull doWn—they cannot build up , and should the convulsion take place bofore they lmvo boon politically disciplined by words and deeds , they wiU not only ruin their prlucos but their country too . Tho princes have been tlio creators of Germany—they must now show wisdom , Ana prove its consorvatorc .

      They must put their hand to the work at once , for the day is far spent . I am inclined to fear that some of your readers , who have travelled in Germany , may think my view of the state of public feeling rather overdrawn , because they have never perceived signs of discontent , but the traveller need not be surprised if he never hear dissatisfaction expressed , unless in very ' vague terms * The following item from the Weser Gazette will show the reason why : —On Monday last ( 3 rd Sept . ) a sailor was taken into custody at Verden , in Hanover , for having

      spoken disrespectfully of the Government ( wegen Majestats Beleidigung , i . e . lese-Majesty ) , and sentenced to three months' imprisonment , with hard labour . The man was a sailor , one of a profession proverbially carelessly free-spoken , this must be his excuse ; but a lands- ; man , who would utter his sentiments freely about his Government , beyond his own threshold , must be considered a silly fellow indeed . The sailor ' s weak mind is at this moment undergoing a double process of enlightenment : he will learn to confine his tongue to subjects

      appertaining to the " belles letlres , " and to enable him the better to do so , perhaps the authorities will permit him , during his hours of rest , to peruse novels , ^ or , if light reading be not allowed , possibly a little atheistical philosophy . When the sailor comes out of prison he will be every way a wiser man , and better subject in word if not . in deed . To travellers , no doubt , he will ever in future appear a very , loyal , contented German . Your readers will bear in mind that the King of" Hanover is an Kriglish prince ; but it is perhaps unjust to make him responsible for the acts of his ministers .

      A letter from Berlin says : —" Never has labour been so much in . demand in our factories and shops as at this moment . All are in full work ; wages are high , and provisions cheap . Commerce in general is , on the other hand , extremely dull , owing to want of confidence . " Letters from different towns complain of the want of dwelling-houses , in consequence of which rents have risen enormously . The cause assigned is that capitalists , foreseeing the dangers of the future , will not venture their money in house property so exposed to depreciahas

      tion . In Vienna , as j-our readers know , the . emperor ordered the fortifications to . be demolished ; for the purpose of affording room for building ; but the fortifications do not stand in the way ; the cause , as the emperor ' s advisers ought to be aware of , is deeper seated and farther off . In Frankfort , the seat of the Diet , house rent is excessively high . Capitalists , are plentiful there , but they will not build ; they prefer building in America , California , and Australia . In some towns , where wages are not half so high as in London , 'houses are fully as dear . ' ' - ¦ ' .

      The free trade movement is making sensible progress , and meets with support from the entire German press ; the people , however , take little or no interest in it at present , but no doubt they will arouse from theirlethargy when the pamphlets of the Congress at Gotha shall be put into circulation .

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      CONTINENTAL NOTES . FKANCE . The Moniteur of the 3 rd inst . published a decree organising the new Algerian ministry , preceded by a report signed by Prince Napoleon . The various changes which it will bo necessary to make in the administration of the province uro set forth , and the probable effects of the new arrangement are detailed . The chief alteration is the abolition of the office of Governor-General . One of the principal objects sought to bo attained is the

      introduction of colonists into Algeria , and tho report closes with tho hope that the means adopted will " attract tho current of European emigration to Algeria , by the simple and salutary principles of security and justice for all—for Frenchmen , Europeans , and natives ^—and of the successful emancipation of men and of interests . "Prince Napoleon is expected to leave Paris on the 25 th , and as he has been asked by tho Council-General of the II < Jrault tp eujbark at Ce . tte , o . i > his way to Algeria , it is thought probable that ho will do so .

      Tho new alleged miracle in Franco ia that with winch a Pyrenoso peasant girl has her name connected . She saw tho Virgin near a well , and tlio waters of the well can cure diseases . An ecclesiastical commission has been appointed to test the accuracy of the story , and , of course , under the assumption that It inny be true as well as falso . The persecution at Maubcugo continues to be discussed in Franco . Protestant worship had been going on for many months at Maubeuge . On a Sunday morning a body of gondannus not only proceeded to stop tho worship but to arrest tho preacher and his vory little congre-Thov nut hi

      j ^ jon . wore ,, _ nriaQn . » HA .. kflluUuftCttJfor » fortnight . In " ¦' Franco , as is well known , meetings for wornhip can only bo held by the sanction of tho civil authorities . It also appear * that In Franco tho authorisation to hold religious assemblies may bo withdrawn as well as bestowed , and tho gendarmes at Maubongo acted upon an order of tho Profoct , taking away the license to worship in tho Protestant way . Tlio Prefect Is therefore to bliimo In the first instance j the law of Franco In tho second . —Tho tf / tWn ,- while admitting tho arrost of tho Protestant minister unil part of Ins nock fttMnuborgo to bo a most disagreeable proceeding , Bays that no legal

      blame can be laid to the charge of the French Governmeu on that account . It is reported that an important meeting will be hel in Paris in the month of November , in furtherance of th plan for piercing the Isthmus of Suez . At the close of the reign of Napoleon I . the tota number of members of the Legion of Honour was 9000 Great progress has been made since their . There ar < now 272 , 000 members . Thirteen men , pretending to be members of the Icarian Society , in France , have been tried and condemned to various terms of imprisonment for holding secret meetings , possessing seditious pamphlet 3 , and even arms and ammunition , and being in communication with chiefs of the revolutionary party .

      General Macmahon is preparing to leave Paris in a few days to take possession of bis new post in Algeria , and to prepare for the reception of Prince Napoleon , who is expected to visit that colony about the middle of this month . ¦ . ¦ ' ¦ ' . M . ' de . Thouvenel , French Ambassador at Constantinople , has obtained leave to return to France , and there is a rumour that he will not return to Turkey , but will be replaced by M . Benedetti . The Emperor , private letters state , has found so much benefit from the sea breezes at Biarritz that his Majesty will stay there somewhat longer than he originally intended . As was the case last year , an auditor of the Council of State goes down every day with despatches and the correspondence of the various ministries for his Majesty . _ _ .

      .. The will of the Duchess of Orleans has proved itself to be dangerous to the present order of things in France . Two Belgian papers which published it were accordingly seized by the French post-office authorities , and the Paris journals , with , one exception , have not taken any notice of it . This exception was the Presse , which produced extracts from the will , and it is understood that , since it did so , warnings have been sent to the other papers not to follow in the some track . In France ^ news would seem to create as much apprehension as gunpowder , and appears to be equally inflammable . the of the

      A petition has been addressed to Emperor French by the inhabitants and workmen of Givors ( Rhone ) , complaining of the deplorable condition to which the people of that town have been reduced from the lowering of the . duty on foreign iron . Two out of three large establishments have been closed , and between fifteen hundred and eighteen hundred men discharged from the want of suflacient employment in their trade . They also complain that the business of the port has been injured by the effect of railway competition on the navigation of the -Rhone .

      sp . The Spanish print called the Hegeneracion , a journal devoted to the priests and Carlists , has been denounced to the tribunals for having published a letter from Baden , in which the pretender to the Spanish Crown is described as far from relinquishing his rights : but , on the contrary , is in hopes that some favourable event will replace Spain in her former position—and , as a consequence , place him upon the throne . The Iberia complains that large distributions . of Protestant Bibles are taking place , especially in the neighbourhood of Gibraltar and in Andalusia . It was said that the decree for the dissolution of the Cortes will be positively promulgated on the 20 th . tradicts the

      An article in tho i ? i ' c « 'fo Espanol con statement about the number of white foreigners in the island of Cuba , and asserts that there are not 5200 there , but only about 2000 , and those are mostly Irish railway labourers and good Catholics , A telegram states that a fatal accident had occurred on the Santatider and Alar Railway * by which two English engineers were killed , and a Spanish engineer much bruised . Tho province of Cuenca , in Spain , is stated to be suffering dreadfully from the ravages of both small-pox and typhus fever , the fivst-incntioned disease sparing neither , young nor . Old . ... ... The ministerial journals of Madrid confirm the statements current for some time past of the intentions of the Government to chastise tho Riff pirates for their aggressions on tho subjects of Spain , in that quarter .

      Tho Spanish royal family have been received with great enthusiasm at Forrol , whore they have witnessed the launch of a war steamer . Rumours of modifications in the ministry have again begun to bo current , ftnd several important political personages , as if anticipating a crisis , have arrived ju Madrid . At Segovia tho police havo seized upwards of 250 muskots and other firo-arms , together will * a considorablo quantity of ammunition . A now return relative JiUj ^ $ . im » iirtuwy ^ sUa ^^ carrying 884 guns , also of a number of steamers of 1700 horse-power . AUSTRIA .

      According to mercantile letters from Berlin , Augsburg , and Frankfort , tho imperial edict on financial matters has produced n muoh loss favourable impression in Germany than it has done in Austria , llio I'innnco Mlnlhtor , however , does not appear to have m > y l «» iotoi the ultimate success of his measures , and tho ouiiMq noo which ho fouls , or iiflVoto to fool , gives courage to the Austrian finance world .

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      No . 44 , 2 , September 11 , 1858 . 1 THE LEAPER . 039

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 11, 1858, page 929, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2259/page/9/