147.HUMBOLDT TO VARNHAGEN.
Berlin,Feb. 5th, 1852.
Berlin,Feb. 5th, 1852.
Berlin,Feb. 5th, 1852.
Berlin,Feb. 5th, 1852.
I believe, my dear friend, that the letter I have just received, will greatly confirm your ideas about Paris. Galuski, the translator of the second volume of Kosmos, is a man of noble instincts, great talents, and muchphilological learning, but very moderate in his love of liberty. What he says of his first impression, is a pretty impudent expression of this moderation. He also was seized with a marvellous dread of coming events. My opinion has always been that the wildest republic cannot do so much and such enduring harm to the intellectual progress of mankind, and to their consciousness of right and honor, asle régime de mon oncle, le despotisme éclairé, dogmatique, milieux, which applies all the arts of civilization to subject a people to the caprices of an individual. Read, to increase your abhorrence of such degradation, which threatens to spread like a pestilence, in the “Journal des Debats” of this morning (February 3d), the reasons for drawing up a list of recommendations of those who might be elected (according to the “Constitutionnel).” The “Spenersche Zeitung” of yesterday did not fail to follow suit with a communication in favor of a similar set of proposals for our second chamber!
I hope soon to procure for you theHistoire de l’Académie(by Bartholmess). I have made many vain efforts to advance the interests of Professor F.’s widow.
Your most attached,A. Humboldt.
Your most attached,A. Humboldt.
Your most attached,A. Humboldt.
Your most attached,
A. Humboldt.
SUPPLEMENT.
“Spenersche Zeitung,” of 1852, Feb. 4, No. 29.—The transactions in reference to the formation of the second Chamber have repeatedly been the subject of our communications. It is perhaps not equally well known, that at this moment the attention of higher circles is also directed to the formation of the Second Chamber. The present electoral law presents the right of suffrage as one to be exercised or not at the option of the voter, without a corresponding obligation on his part. A law compelling men to vote would seem to be equally inexpedient and impracticable. But by refraining from voting in any number, the voters repose the decision of the question in the hands of an unknown minority, who, by exercising their privilege, frequently bring about a state of things by which representation is given, not to the political views of the constituency, but to their very opposite. The principles had in view in fixing the reconstruction of the First Chamber, have, by force of logical inference, led to the proposals to alter the electoral law for the Second Chamber in this manner,that His Majesty, the King, shall appoint in each district, long before the election, a government candidate, who shall be the representative, unless the majority of the voters should at the election record their preference for another. The specific arguments in support of such a plan will appear to-morrow in connexion with its details.