Andreas Hofer | Page 7

all thrones to convert the foreign kingdoms and empires
into provinces of his empire, blot out the history of the nations and
dynasties, and have all engulfed by his universal monarchy."
"God may not decree this, but He may perhaps allow it if the will of the
nations and the princes should not be strong enough to set bounds to
such mischief. When the feeling of liberty and independence does not
incite the nations to rise enthusiastically and defend their rights, God
sends them a tyrant as a scourge to chastise them. And such, I am afraid,
is our case. Germany has lost faith in herself, in her honor; she lies
exhausted at the feet of the tyrant, and is ready to be trampled in the
dust by him. Just look around in our German fatherland. What do you
see there? All the sovereign princes have renounced their independence,
and become Napoleon's vassals; they obey his will, they submit to his
orders, and send their armies not against the enemy of Germany, but
against the enemies of France, no matter whether those enemies are
their German brethren or not. The German princes have formed the
Confederation of the Rhine, and the object of this confederation is not

to preserve the frontier of the Rhine to Germany, but to secure the
Rhine to France. The German princes are begging for honors and
territories at the court of Napoleon; they do not shrink from
manifesting their fealty to their master, the Emperor of the French, by
betraying the interests of Germany; they are playing here at Vienna the
part of the meanest spies; they are watching all our steps, and are
shameless enough to have the Emperor Napoleon reward their infamy
by conferring royal titles on them, and to accept at his hands German
territories which he took from German princes. Bavaria did not disdain
to aggrandize her territories at our expense; Wurtemberg accepts
without blushing the territories of other German princes at the bands of
Napoleon, who thus rewards her for the incessant warnings by which
the King of Wurtemberg urges the Emperor of the French to be on his
guard against Austria, and always distrust the intentions of the Emperor
Francis. [Footnote: Schlosser, "History of the Eighteenth Century," vol.
vii., p. 488.] In the middle of the German empire we see a new French
kingdom; Westphalia, established by Napoleon's orders; it is formed of
the spoils taken from Prussia and Hanover; and the German princes
suffer it, and the German people bow their heads, silently to the
disgraceful foreign yoke! Ah, Nugent, my heart is full of grief and
anger, full of the bitterness of despair; for I have lost faith in Germany,
and see shudderingly that she will decay and die, as Poland died, of her
own weakness. Ah, it would be dreadful, dreadful, if we too, had to fall,
as the unfortunate Kosciusko did, with the despairing cry of 'Finis
Germaniae!'"
"No, that will never happen!" cried Nugent. "No, Germany will never
endure the disgrace and debasement of Poland; she will never sink to
ruin and perish like Poland. It is true, a majority of the German princes
bow to Napoleon's power, and we may charge them with infidelity and
treason against Germany; but we can not prefer the same charge against
the German people and the subjects of the traitorous German princes.
They have remained faithful, and have not yet lost faith in their
fatherland. They are indignantly champing the bit with which their
despots have shut their mouth; and, in silence, harmony, and
confidence in God, they are preparing for the great hour when they will
rise, for the sacred day when they will break their shackles with the
divine strength of a united and high- minded people. Everywhere the

embers are smouldering under the ashes; everywhere secret societies
and leagues have been formed; everywhere there are conspirators,
depots of arms, and passwords; everywhere the people of Germany are
waiting only for the moment when they are to strike the first blow, and
for the signal to rise. And they are in hopes now that Austria will give
the signal. Our preparations for war have been hailed with exultation
throughout Germany: everywhere the people are ready to take up arms
so soon as Austria draws the sword. The example of Spain and Portugal
has taught the Germans how the arrogant conqueror must be met; the
example of Austria will fill them with boundless enthusiasm, and lead
them to the most glorious victories!"
"And we are still temporizing and hesitating," exclaimed John,
mournfully; "we are not courageous enough to strike the first blow! All
is ready; the emperor has only to utter the decisive word, but he refuses
to do so!"
"The enthusiasm of his people will soon compel