louisa of prussia and her times-第98节

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order　that　our　voices　may　resound　hither　and　thither　throughout
Germany；　and　awaken　all　minds　and　kindle　all　energies　for　the　one
grand　aim；　the　delivery　and　the　honor　of　Germany。〃

〃You　still　believe；　then；　in　the　honor　of　Germany　and　the
possibility　of　its　delivery；〃　Muller　inquired；　with　a　sigh。

〃Yes。　I　still　believe　in　it；〃　Gentz　exclaimed；　with　enthusiasm；　〃but
to　that　end　many　things　must　yet　be　done；　many　things　must　be　aimed
at　and　changed。　Above　all；　two　things　are　necessary。　In　the　first
place；　the　old　enmity　between　Austria　and　Prussia　must　disappear；
and　both　must　firmly　unite　with　each　other　and　with　England　against
France。　It　is　this　which　I　in　Vienna　and　you　in　Berlin　must　never
lose　sight　ofwhich　we　must　aim　at　with　all　the　power　of　our　spirit
and　of　our　eloquence；　for　it　is　one　of　the　last　measures　which　are
left　for　maintaining　the　independence　of　Europe　and　for　averting　the
deluge　of　evils　which　break　forth　more　terribly　every　day。　From　the
moment　when　Austria　and　Prussia　shall　stand　upon　one　line　and　move
in　one　direction；　there　will　be　nowhere　in　Germany　particular
interests。　All　the　greater　and　lesser　princes　would　at　once　and
without　hesitation　place　themselves　under　the　wings　of　this　powerful
alliancethe　well…disposed　cheerfully　and　out　of　conviction；　and
the　unpatriotic　ones　through　fear。　So　much　of　the　constitution　as
has　been　rescued　from　this　last　shipwreck；　would　be　safe　for　the
duration　of　this　alliance；　and　so　much　of　it　as　must　be　altered；
would　be　altered　according　to　the　principles　of　justice　and　of　the
common　weal；　and　not　according　to　the　disgraceful　demands　of　French
and　Russian　land　agents。〃

〃You　are　right；〃　exclaimed　Johannes　Muller；　〃a　close　alliance　of
Austria　and　Prussia　is　necessary；　and　only　through　it；　and　through
it　alone；　the　maintenance　of　the　European　equilibrium　is　possible；
but　for　the　present　we　must　lean　on　the　power　of　Russia　and　the
resources　of　England。〃

〃No；　no；〃　Gentz　exclaimed；　vehemently；　〃no　communion　with　Russia！
Russia　is　a　friend　who　can　never　be　trusted；　for　whenever　it　shall
be　her　advantage　she　will　at　any　moment　be　ready　to　become　the　most
bitter　enemy　of　her　friends。　But　really　we　have　had　a　striking　and
terrible　example；　of　this　when　the　Emperor　Paul　suddenly　separated
from　Germany　and　England　in　order　to　ally　himself　with　France。　But
the　union　of　France　and　Russia　is　the　most　threatening　and　terrible
combination　for　the　whole　remainder　of　Europe。　Of　all　the　wounds
which　during　the　last　ten　years　have　been　inflicted　upon　the　old
political　system；　and　in　particular　upon　the　independence　of
Germany；　those　which　were　caused　by　the　temporary　agreement　between
France　and　Russia　were　the　deepest　and　most　incurable。　If　this　comet
should　rise　a　second　time　over　our　heads；　the　world　will　go　up　in
flames。　What　is　to　resist　the　combined　power　of　these　two　colossuses
unless　the　united　weight　and　the　united　bulk　of　Germany　hinders
their　embrace？　The　western　colossus　has　long　since　broken　through
its　old　barriers；　all　the　outposts　are　in　its　power；　all　the
fortresses　which　do　not　belong　to　it　are　dismantled；　all　the　points
of　military　defence　are　outflanked。　From　Switzerland　and　Italy；　from
the　peaks　of　the　conquered　Alps；　it　may　irresistibly　pounce　upon　the
centime　of　the　Austrian　monarchy　and　invade　the　exposed　provinces　of
the　undefended　Prussian　kingdom。　And　now　let　it　please　Providence　to
elevate　upon　the　Russian　throne　a　prince　full　of　ambition　and　thirst
of　conquest；　and　the　subjugation　of　Germany；　the　dissolution　of　all
the　empires　still　existing；　a　double　universal　monarchy　would；　under
the　present　circumstances；　be　the　next　consequence；　and　if　the
present　system；　or　rather　the　present　hopeless　languor　should
continue　for　several　more　years；　this　must　sooner　or　later　be　the
inevitable　destiny　of　Germany。〃

〃There　is　now　for　Germany　only　one　enemy；〃　Johannes　Muller　said；
vehemently；　〃and　this　enemy　is　Franceis　Bonaparte！　A　new　crisis
approaches；　of　this　I　am　convinced。　Bonaparte　will　not　be　satisfied
with　the　title　and　the　office　of　a　First　Consul　for　life；　he　will
place　a　crown　upon　his　head；　and　threateningly　oppose　himself　with
his　sceptre　to　all　monarchies；　and　they　will　either　have　to　humble
themselves　before　him　or　to　unite　against　him。　Therefore；　no　other；
no　possible　future　enemy；　should　be　thought　of　at　this　time；　but
only　the　universal　foe　and　his　government；　so　incompatible　with
general　tranquillity。　Let　all　the　hatred　of　the　nation　be　poured
down　on　him；　and　on　him　alone；　by　everywhere　spreading　the
conviction　that　nothing　interferes　with　the　preservation　of　peace
throughout　the　world　but　his　existence。〃　＇Footnote：　Muller's　own
words。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃　vol。　vii。；　p。　58。＇
〃There　is　something　else　I　would　wish　for　Germany；〃　said　Gentz；
musingly。　〃I　will　now　reveal　to　you　my　innermost　thoughts；　my
friend；　for　I　am　satisfied　that　our　meeting　here　was　a　dispensation
of　fate。　Providence　has　decreed　that　we；　the　intellectual　champions
of　Germany；　should　agree　here　on　the　plans　of　our　campaign　and
concert　measures　for　our　joint　action。　Therefore；　you　shall　descend
with　me　into　the　depths　of　my　heart　and　see　the　result　to　which　I
have　been　led　by　many　years'　reflection　concerning　the　causes　and
progress　of　the　great　convulsions　of　our　day；　and　by　my　own　grief　at
the　political　decay　of　Germany。　The　result　is　the　firm　belief　that
it　would　be　by　far　better　for　Germany　to　be　united　into　one　state。
Oh；　do　not　look　at　me　in　so　surprised　and　angry　a　manner！　I　know
very　well；　and　I　have　reflected　a　great　deal　about　it；　how　salutary
an　influence　has　been　exerted　by　the　dismemberment　of　Germany　on　the
free　development　of　the　individual　faculties；　I　acknowledge　that；
considered　individually；　we　might　very　probably　not　have　reached；　in
a　great　and　centralized　monarchy；　the　proud　and　glorious　eminence　we
are　occupying　at　the　present　time；　and　so　far；　as　a　nation；　after
all；　only　consists　of　individuals；　I　am　unable　to　perceive　exactly
how　ours；　without　anarchy；　could　have　acquired　the　distinction　which
it　might　boast　of　if　it　were　a　nation！　But　whenever　I　think　that　it
is　no　nationwhenever　I　think　that　France　and　England；　with　greatly
inferior　faculties　and　means；　have　grown　up　to　that　true　totality　of
human　lifeto　that　true　nationality　which　nothing　is　able　to
destroywhenever　I　think　and　feel　that　foreigners；　on　whom　we　may
look　down　from　our　exalted　stand…point；　in　matters　of　politics；
trample　on　our　necks；　and　are　allowed　to　treat　us　as　though　we　were
their　servants；　all　consolations　derived　from　our　grand　and
magnificent　individuality　vanish　and　leave　me　alone　with　my　grief。
＇Footnote：　Gentz's　own　words。Vide　〃Memoires　d'un　Homme　d'Etat；〃
vol。　vii。；　p。　20。＇　I　am　free　to　confess　to　you　that　I　have　already
gone　so　far　on　the　road　of　those　mournful　reflections　as　to　consider
it　very　doubtful　whether　the　whole　history　of　Germany　was　ever
treated　from　a　correct　point　of　view。　I　know　but　too　well　that　the
princes　of　the　house　of　Austria　seldom；　if　ever；　deserved　to　be　the
rulers　of　Germany；　but　I　do　not　believe　that　there　are　any　reasons
why　we　should　exalt　at　the　discomfiture　of　their　plans。　It　is　a
matter　of　great　indifference　to　me　whether　a　Hapsburg；　Bavarian；
Hohenzollern；　or　Hohenstaufen　succeed　in　bringing　the　empire　under
one　hat；　I　only　place　myself　on　an　Austrian　stand…point　because　that
house　has　the　best　prospects　and　is　under　the　highest　obligations　to
accomplish　the　unity　of　Germany。　Now　you　know　my　innermost　thoughts；
criticise　and　correct　them；　my　friend！〃

〃I　will　neither　criticise　nor　correct　them；〃　said　Muller；　offering
his　hand　to　Gentz　with　a　tender　glance；　〃I　will　only　exchange　views
with　you。　I　imagine；　therefore；　at　this　moment；　we　were　pacing；　as
we　did　a　year　ago；　previous　to　your　journey　to　England；　the　splendid
hall　of　the　imperial　library；　where　the　sixteen　statues　of　the
Hapsburg　emperors　reminded　us　of　their　era。　Before　which　of　them
will　we　place　ourselves　and　say：　'What　a　pity　that　you；　wise　and
noble　prince；　are　not　the　sole　ruler　of　Germany；　you　were　worthy；
indeed；　that　the　moral　and　political　welfare　of　the　whole　nation
should　be　left　to　the　decision　of　your　will；　and　that　every　thing
should　be　submitted　to　your　power！'〃

〃It　is　true；〃　muttered　Gentz；　mournfully；　〃in　the　history　of　Germany
there　is　no　emperor；　king；　or　prince　to　whom　we　might　or　should　talk
in　this　manner。〃

〃Nor　is　that　the　cause　of　our　misfortunes；〃　said　Muller；　〃the　want
of　one　ruler　has　not　produced　them；　and　it　is　not　so　bad　that　we
have　not　got　but　one　neck；　and　cannot　consequently　be　struck　down　at
one　blow。　The　fault；　on　the　contrary；　is　our　own。　If　we　had　a　single
great　man；　even　though　he　were　neither　an　emperor　nor　a　king；　if　he
were　only　a　Maurice　of　Saxony；　a　Stadtholder　of　Holland；　he　would
attract　the　nation　in　times　of　danger　and　distress；　it　would　rally
around　him　and　he　would　stand　above　it。　That　we　have　not　such　a　man
is　owing　to　our　deplorable　system　of　education；　and　to　the　wrong
direction　which　our　mode　of　thinking　has　taken。　Every　thing　with　us
has　fallen　asleep；　and　we　are　in　a　condition　of　almost