The North American Review Volume . 68 (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1849 edition. Excerpt: ... freedom and unity of Germany; I wish for order. I have done only what has more than once been done in German history, in a moment of great danger to the country; I have placed myself at the head of the whole nation; and I am confident that the princes of Germany will sympathize with me and her people support me." Among the many strange events which have occurred in Europe within the past year, we know of none more strange than this singular declaration of Frederic William. We do not agree with those who think that a man must necessarily profess the same opinions throughout life; on the contrary, we think it but natural that circumstances, and, above all, experience, should modify--nay, even entirely change--the political opinions of a man. We admire the "Justum ac tenacem propositi virum," who retains through a long and active public life the same opinions; but we can understand that this should not always Fur die Tage der Gefahr. t Preussen gehtfortan in Deutschland auf. be the case; and, indeed, we see no good reason why he who was a radical at twenty should not be a conservative at forty. But we confess that we cannot but distrust the very sudden conversion of the king of Prussia, who, in a few days, passes from one extremity to the other of the scale of political opinions. Yesterday he was blindly attached to all the forms of the past, and to-day he is the enthusiastic admirer of free institutions. Yesterday he was the defender of the divine right of kings, and of royal power to be limited only by the free grants of the sovereign himself, --and to-day he not only wishes all nations to be free, but is desirous of placing himself at the head of the liberal movement in Germany. This savors more of policy and ambition than...