Cologne, November 2. We give below the appeal of the “Democra- 
tic Congress””: 

TO THE GERMAN PEOPLE! 

During long humiliating years, the German people groaned under the yoke of 
despotism. The bloody deeds of Vienna and Berlin justified the hope that its freedom 
and unity would be realised at one blow. The diabolical cunning of an execrable 
reaction balked this development, thus cheating the heroic people of the fruits of its 
grandiose insurrection. Vienna, a main bulwark of German freedom, finds itself at the 
moment in the greatest danger. Sacrificed by the intrigues of a still powerful camarilla, 
it was to be delivered again to the fetters of despotism. But its noble population rose as 
one man and opposes the armed hordes of its oppressors resolute unto death. The 
cause of Vienna is the cause of Germany and the cause of freedom. With the fall of 
Vienna, the old tyranny will raise its banner higher than ever, Vienna’s victory would 
mean its destruction. It is up to us, German brothers, not to allow Vienna’s freedom to 
perish and not to sacrifice it to the fortune of war of barbaric hordes. It is the most 
sacred duty of the German governments to rush to the aid of their hard pressed sister 
city with all their influence. It is, however, at the same time also the most sacred duty 
of the German people—in the interest of its freedom and in the interest of its 
self-preservation—to make every sacrifice for the salvation of Vienna. The German 
people must never draw upon itself the humiliation of blunt indifference when the 
most precious things, when everything is at stake. Therefore we ask you, brothers, to 
contribute, each according to his strength, to save Vienna from perdition. What we are 
doing for Vienna, we are doing for Germany. It is up to you to help! The men whom 
you have sent to Frankfurt in order to establish freedom have rejected the request to 
help Vienna with derision. It is up to you now to act! With your powerful and 
unshakeable energy, demand from your governments that they submit to your 
majority and save the German cause and the cause of freedom in Vienna. Hurry! You 
are the power, your will is law! Arise, ye men of freedom, arise in all German lands 
and wherever else the thought of freedom and humanity inflames noble hearts! Arise, 

“Appeal of the Democratic Congress to the German People” 491 

before it is too late! Save the freedom of Vienna. Save the freedom of Germany. The 
present generation will admire you, posterity will reward you with immortal glory! 

October 29, 1848 
The Democratic Congress in Berlin 

In this appeal lack of revolutionary energy is replaced by 
sermonising, wailing and ranting’* behind which hides the most 
decided lack of thought and passion. 

Just a few samples! 

The appeal expected of the Vienna and Berlin March revolutions 
“the realisation of the unity and freedom” of the German people “at 
one blow”. In other words: the appeal dreamed of “one blow” which 
would render the “development” of the German people towards 
“unity and freedom” superfluous. 

Immediately thereafter, however, the fantastic “one blow” which 
replaces the development is transformed into a “development” which 
was balked by the reaction. A phrase which reduces itself to nothing! 

We are disregarding the monotonous repetition of the basic 
theme: Vienna is in danger and with Vienna Germany’s freedom. 
Help Vienna and you will help yourselves! This thought has not been 
given flesh and blood. This one phrase is wrapped around itself so 
many times until it has been extended into a piece of oratory. We 
merely observe that artificial, insincere ranting always lapses into this 
clumsy rhetoric. 

“It is up to us, German brothers, not to allow Vienna’s freedom to perish and 
not to sacrifice it to the fortune of war of barbaric hordes.” 

And how are we to do this? 
First of all, by an appeal to the sense of duty of the “German 

overnments”’. C'est incroyable! 
4 

“It is the most sacred duty of the German governments to rush to the aid of their 
hard pressed sister city with all their influence.” 

Is the Prussian Government supposed to send Wrangel or Colomb 
or the Prince of Prussia against Auersperg, Jellachich and Win- 
dischgratz? Did the “Democratic” Congress have the right to assume 
for one moment this childish and conservative attitude to the 
German governments? Did it have the right to separate for one 
moment the cause and the “most sacred interests” of the German 
governments from the cause and the interests of “Croatian order 
and freedom”? The governments will smile in self-satisfaction at this 
virginal enthusiasm. 

* That is incredible!— Ed. 

And the people? 

The people are exhorted in general “to make every sacrifice for 
the salvation of Vienna”. Fine! The “people”, however, expect 
particular demands of the Democratic Congress. Whoever demands 
everything, demands nothing and obtains nothing. Thus the 
particular demand, the whole point is: 

“With your powerful and unshakeable energy, demand from your governments | 
that they submit to your majority and save the German cause and the cause of 
freedom in Vienna. Hurry! You are the power, your will is law! Arise!” 

Let us assume that great popular demonstrations succeed in 
compelling the governments to take steps in a semi-official way for 
the salvation of Vienna; we would be blessed with a second edition of 
“Stein’s Army Order”. The very idea of using the present “German 
governments” as “saviours of freedom”—as if in carrying out 
imperial punitive measures they were not fulfilling their true calling 
and their “most sacred duties” as the Gabriels of “constitutional 
freedom”. The “Democratic Congress” had to be silent about the 
German governments or it had to reveal unsparingly their 
conspiracy with Olmütz* and Petersburg. 

Even though the appeal recommends “speed” and there is indeed 
no time to lose, the humanistic phraseology carries it beyond the 
borders of Germany and beyond every geographical boundary into 
the cosmopolitan, misty land of “noble hearts” in general. 

“Hurry! Arise, ye men of freedom, arise in all German lands and wherever else 
the thought of freedom and humanity inflames noble hearts!” 

We do not doubt that there are such “hearts” even in Lapland. 

In Germany and wherever else! By evaporating into this pure and 
indefinite phrase the “appeal” has gained its true expression. 

It remains unforgivable that the “Democratic Congress” counter- 
signed such a document. Neither will “the present generation 
admire it for this” nor will “posterity reward it with immortal glory”. 

Let us hope that the people, in spite of the “appeal of the 
Democratic Congress’, will awaken from its lethargy and that it will 
aid the Viennese in the only way it is still able to do at this moment, 
by defeating the counter-revolution at home.