A Rejoinder

[“Neue Rheinische Zeitung” No. 179, December 27, 1848]

The literary lumpenproletariat of Herr Dumont, which submits to all the kicks from the Neue Rheinische Zeitung with the most touching passive resistance, seeks to avenge itself by denouncing to the police the editors of the Neue Rheinische Zeitung for articles they did not write. Thus, according to the Kölnische Zeitung of December 25, Freiligrath is supposed to be the author of a Cologne correspondence in the Deutsche Schnellpost appearing in New York and consequently — to have taken part in the charivari dedicated to the patrons of the Kölnische Zeitung on November 3. The laurels of the “Maltese” seem to keep the editors of the Kölnische Zeitung from sleeping.

The New “Holy Alliance”

[“Neue Rheinische Zeitung” No. 183, December 31, 1848]

*Cologne, December 30. That a new “Holy Alliance” between Prussia, Austria and Russia was concluded already several months ago is notorious throughout the world. The treaty itself will also shortly be brought to light and handed over to the public. The soul of this league of the lords “by the grace of God and the knout” is Russia. The whole of Russian policy and diplomacy for its part rests, with few exceptions, on the shoulders of Germans or German-Russians. Wherever absolutism and counter-revolution are active we always find Germans, but nowhere more so than at the central point of permanent counter-revolution, Russian diplomacy. There is, firstly, Count Nesselrode, a German-Hebrew; then Baron von Meyendorff, envoy in Berlin, from Estonia, and his assistant, the Emperor’s adjutant, Colonel Count Benkendorff, likewise an Estonian. In Austria, Count Medem, a Courlander, operates with several assistants, among them a Herr von Fonton, all Germans. Baron von Brunnow, Russian envoy in London, likewise a Courlander, serves as the connecting and mediating link between – Metternich and Palmerston. In Frankfurt, finally, Baron von Budberg, a Livonian, is active as Russian chargé d’affaires. These are a few examples. We could cite a few dozen more, without speaking of the creatures of the St. Petersburg Tsar who hold high and the highest posts in Germany while at the same time being in high Russian pay.

What role the Austrian Archduchess Sophie, now Empress Mother, plays in the camp of the enemies of the people and the Holy Alliance needs no exposition, as it is notorious. Sophie herself, however, is in turn powerfully influenced by the Grand Duchess Helena, wife of Grand Duke Michael and daughter of Prince Paul of Württemberg. Helena serves as the most intimate link between Nicholas and Sophie and the notorious Archduke Ludwig.

Among these persons, then, the plan was already arranged months ago, according to which the Austrian emperor of martial law¹ will marry the remaining daughter² of the grand ducal couple, so that the new “Holy Alliance” shall be indissolubly soldered together and Russia brought ever closer to its goal, the establishment of the most complete rule of the knout in Germany.

¹ Franz Joseph — ² Katharina