The Student Life of Germany Part 3

I'st where the Markers iron find[5]

Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland?

Westphalian, or Pomerian land?

Is't where the sand from sea-down blows?

Is't where the Danube foaming flows?

Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland?

So name to me the mighty land.

The land of Hofer?--or of Tell?

Both land and people love I well.

Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland?

So name to me that mighty land.

The Austrian land it sure must be, With glory crowned and victory!

Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland?

So name to me that mighty land.

Is't what the Princes' hollow theft, From Emperor and from Empire reft?

Oh no! etc.

Which is the German's Fatherland?

So name me finally that land!

Wide as the German tree tongue springs, And hymns to G.o.d in heaven sings!

That shall it be! that shall it be!

That land brave German's giv'n to thee!

That is the German's Fatherland, Where oaths are sworn by grasp of hand; Where in all eyes clear truth doth s.h.i.+ne; Where in warm hearts sits love benign.

That shall it be! etc.

That is the German's Fatherland, Where foreign folly scorn doth brand; Where all that's base 'neath hate must bend; Where all that's n.o.ble name we Friend.

That shall it be! that shall it be!

That whole, the German land shall be!

That whole, the German land shall be!

O G.o.d of Heaven! hither see!

And give us genuine German soul, That we may love it high and whole.

That shall it be! etc.

But with the peace which succeeded the second overthrow of Napoleon, the expectations of the German nation began to exhibit themselves more clearly; and out of the disproportion between them and that which was done to satisfy them, sprang the germs of mistrust between the princes and the people. The opening of the _Bundesversammlung_, or confederated a.s.sembly, Nov. 5, 1816, betrayed not only the imperfection of the const.i.tution, which had been thrown together in a hurry, but also the uncertainty of the a.s.sembly itself, of the extent of its delegated powers. Its declaration that Germany was not to be considered as a united state, but as a confederation of states--(nicht als ein Bundesstaat, sondern als ein Staaten-bund)--gave the less satisfaction, as it was just contrary to what was desired. The nation desired earnestly a common all-embracing bond of union and communion, and not merely a confederacy of their sovereign princes, which the interests of the moment, as they had originated it, would also dissolve again.

The general excitement in Germany received a palpable point of demand in the thirteenth article of the Act of Confederation. In most of the German states the anxiety for a representative const.i.tution displayed itself in such a manner as rendered in the highest degree difficult an accordance between princes and subjects.

In Prussia especially, the const.i.tution of the monarchy opposed so many difficulties to the establishment of a national representation, that its postponement was inevitable; and pa.s.sionate discontent saw in the impracticability nothing but an evil disposition. In the other German states, the steps made towards the pa.s.sing of a const.i.tution conducted to as little result; the princes and popular representatives could not agree, since the first were as sparing in their concessions as the latter were unbounded in their demands. But the spirit which was in Germany striving after the const.i.tutional organization of states, had not every where confined itself within due bounds. The secret unions which were formed during the ascendency of Napoleon still continued.

The excitement of the public mind, which at an earlier period had been favoured even by the government itself, so far from having subsided, had rather received a new impulse, and as it had now necessarily lost its outward tendency, it sought to take effect in the heart of Germany.

The government saw with suspicion the drift of the secret unions, and their influence on the Gymnastic schools and universities; they heard with astonishment, the bold language of the rising generation approximating itself to political fanaticism. The German Confederation satisfied not these heads on fire with ideas of one and a free Germany.

The restoration of the empire, in connexion with one of the prevailing theories of conformable national representation, was the master desire of a numerous party, which was spread wide through Germany, and rendered the universities the seminaries of their doctrines. The youth entered with pride into the idea, that they were called to work out their salvation, from the circ.u.mstances to which their fathers had reduced them. Political notions of the Middle Ages mingled themselves in the heads of the student youth, with the revolutionary doctrines of modern times, and received, moreover, from religious enthusiasm, a dark addition. Thus degenerated the Burschenschaft, in a manner most deeply to be deplored, and demonstrated in a melancholy degree how near to each other lie the boundaries of truth and falsehood. n.o.ble patriotism metamorphosed itself into a gloomy fanaticism,--zeal for religion and morals, into a hollow hypocrisy, and into a still more dangerous pseudo-philosophy. The landsmannschafts became continually weaker in the German universities, and the young men every day added themselves to the burschenschaft in greater numbers. Truly the greater number of them never dreamed to what lengths such a political fanaticism could lead them; and only by degrees and un.o.bserved mounted the arrogance of an inconsiderate youth, till at length it persuaded itself that it alone had fought out the liberation war, and therefore was now called to give to Fatherland a new const.i.tution.

These perilous imaginations grew continually faster and faster into that horrible avalanche which threatened to overwhelm every thing. What a difference between the years 1816 and 1817, when one compares the celebration of the peace anniversary of 1816, with that of the celebration of the October days of 1817!

On the 18th, 19th, and 20th of January, 1816, Jena, amongst other universities, celebrated the peace-festival in a style and manner, which, say the newspapers of the time, deserve to be published and handed down to posterity.

The report of this festival stands thus:--On the 16th day of January was issued from the grand-ducal police commission, and the city council of Jena, a public programme in regard to this festival. In pursuance of its ordinations, on the 17th, all the bells were rung at noon. Before and after the ringing, mortars and cannon were fired at the outer gate.

At eight o'clock in the evening the Landsturm beat tattoo with music.

On the 18th, in the morning, solemn music sounded from the towers, with drum and trumpet, and firing of cannon. At nine o'clock a.s.sembled at the council-house, the clergy, the city authorities, and the elder burgers not belonging to the Landsturm, whither also an hour later proceeded the whole body of school youth with their teachers. At ten o'clock, the a.s.sembled company moved thence in procession to the city church. A division of the Landsturm, as the procession arrived before the church, made way for it Behind this division walked, as leader of the whole procession, the depositor, or master of the ceremonies, in a black dress, and next to him went the academical officials. Behind these came two beadles, with silver sceptres, and cloaks of red cloth, preceding the then prorector regens, Herr Hofrath Dr. Seidenstecker, the prorector being, however, as well as the prorector designatus, Herr Hofrath Dr. Voigt, who followed him, supported by two students. To the prorectors succeeded the deacons of the four faculties, two and two, and then followed the senate, the professors, the docenten, and the students, whose banner was borne before them. As the train came in front of the council-house, that of the city authorities joined it and proceeded with it to the church, in which each party took their respective seats. A second division of the Landsturm brought up the rear of the train. All conducted themselves with the decorum and dignity befitting this day, and the appearance of the whole congregation excited a lively feeling of something high and important.

When the service was concluded, the train quitted the church in the same order in which it had entered it. At the council-house, the procession of the city authorities, and those who had joined them, separated from that of the academicians, who directed their course again to the university, where they broke off.

The students now betook themselves to the market-place, and after the public appointed religious service which they had just attended, performed a private act of devotion, which in its simplicity and unostentatiousness was extremely striking and affecting. Ranged in a circle, the banner and the leaders of the procession in its centre with uncovered heads, they sung a hymn, written for the occasion by Herr Ullmann of Liefland, with such truth and depth of feeling, that Herr Hofrath Gabler, who with other professors, was present at this solemnity, seized with enthusiastic emotion by its power, thanked the students with heart-enkindled words for the elevation of soul that they had occasioned. A beautiful conclusion of all the religious and public solemnities of this day! for that many houses in the evening, especially in the market-place, were found illuminated, was rather a testimony of individual joy, which took this way to display itself.

The following day, the 19th of January, only was left to the students to make their arrangements for their peace anniversary. And now once more, in how German, how brave, how n.o.ble a style was every festive preparation completed!

In the Rau-Thal, through which the haughty enemy of the German name had formerly led his robber-horde to victory, an Oak was selected, that, the witness of former overthrow, it might now, as a memorial of the achieved liberty of Germany--of new flouris.h.i.+ng man's strength, be planted on that spot which, ten years before, on the most unfortunate of all days, covered with rubbish and ashes, had been consecrated to a dreadful remembrance. On the morning of the 19th, the oak was taken from its old location, and towards noon brought to the city, where it was received by the students with joyful hearts, and in procession of two and two, conducted with music to the square, the scene of former desolation. On the platz, a division of the Landsturm had stationed itself, and a.s.sisted to form the circle; a division of the mounted Landsturm had ridden in advance of the tree, A vast body of spectators stood round the platz! many of the professors, and those who took interest in the scene, stationed themselves near the oak.

When all was ready for the planting of the oak, a hymn composed for the occasion by Herr Goering, from Weimar, to a tune furnished by Herr Cotta, of Eisenach, was sung by the students, fervently and solemnly, with uncovered heads as on the day before; then stepped Herr Horn of Mechlenberg forth from the inner circle, and delivered a pregnant and powerful speech with equal animation and grace. The attention and silence of the vast throng of spectators during the delivery of this speech, testified the impression it produced, to say nothing of its subsequent influence. The speech ended; the planting of the oak was performed, accompanied by the singing of a hymn, also composed by Herr Goering, to a tune by Herr Cotta. The professors present testified their interest and delight in the transaction, by each of them scattering three handfuls of earth on the roots of the planted oak. But numbers of the maidens and young ladies bound ribands on the significant tree, eloquent with so many significations, thereby proclaiming the strength, the desires, the sentiments, and hopes of their hearts.

As now the oak, to which we will all wish a joyful and prosperous growth, especially in its national indications, was planted, Herr Horn p.r.o.nounced the iambics written for the occasion by Herr Ullmann, with the tone and feeling appropriate to their office and contents. The whole transaction was concluded by the singing of hymns, composed by Herr Neidhart, the elder of Ebersdorf in Voigtland, and breathing a n.o.ble, powerful spirit, for right and freedom, which animated the whole nation, and in its own language awarded to festival its high and significant value. The occasion thus brought to its close--a solemnity which our grandchildren may well hold sacred--the students marched in procession of two to the market-place, where they excited one another in brotherly union, with Arndt's thrilling hymn, to unity of spirit and faithful confidence in the sentiments then and there implanted.

THE UNION SONG.

In happy hour have we united, A mighty and a German choir!

And hence from every soul excited, Burst hymns of praise to G.o.d once more; Since we stand here o'er high things musing, With feelings holy and profound, So the full heart its joy diffusing, Must swell with all its chords the sound.

To whom shall first our thanks be pealed?

To G.o.d's most high and wondrous name, Who in our shame's long night revealed, Arose before us all in flame.

Who blasted all our foes' disdaining; Our strength and beauty all restored; Who on the stars for ever reigning, Sits there from age to age adored.

Our second wish--to whom then flies it?

To Fatherland's high glory whole.

Perdition seize all who despise it, Hail! he who yields it life and soul!

Through virtues pa.s.s it still be-wondered; Beloved for honesty and right, Proud from year-hundred to year-hundred, In strength and honour ever bright.

To joys of German men,--a measure!

One third--in clearer joy and thanks; For freedom is the German pleasure; For freedom leads our German ranks.

For it to live, for it to perish,-- Each German bosom burns for this; For this the hero-death to cherish, Is German honour, German bliss.

The fourth--in solemn consecration,-- Hands, hearts aloft together go!

Thou ancient truth--and of our nation, Thou faith, united--"live ye hoch!"

With these all doubts and fears we banish, These of our bond are rock and s.h.i.+eld; The world indeed itself must vanish, When men their plighted word shall yield.

Close in,--the sacred circle throng now, And raise the clash of triumph strong; From heart to heart, from tongue to tongue now, Like lightning send this joyful song:-- The Word that knits our bond for ever; The Good no fiend can from us rend,-- Nor tyrant villany can sever,-- Believe!--maintain it to the end!