PATRIOTISM AND BEER.

Dunstan Times, Issue 580, 30 May 1873, Page 3

PATRIOTISM AND BEER.

--0— ojx* (Melbourne Argus, ju Thu beer riots at Frankfort ate calculate ! to disabuse notion that our Teutonic ctiusiury are great lovers of piece and quietness,’ slow to anger, and addicted to indulge in dreamy reveries amidst a fragrant cloudiof tobacco smoke. There is an old saying current in the Rhinelaud to the effect that “ two German’s will fight about the color of Barbarossa’s beard,’” and the eagerness with which the whole nation flew to arms when France" raised the cry of “a Berlin,” was an indication of the pugnacity as well as the patriotism of the German people. Some years ago, in a wellknown and respectably frequented hneipe, or beer-house, in the Prussian capitol, the following notice occupied a conspicuous position in the principal room of the tavern —“Honored guests are rcpeotfally entreated to observe that a reasonable provision of bludgeons is placed at their disposal by the proprietor—grateful for their patronage—and may be found handy behind the great stove. It is hoped that this accommodation will readei it unnecessary for the future that the honored guests should break o!f the'chair legs for the pur. pose of mutually adjusting their political views.” Probably this good old custom was still kept up on Frank fort-on-the' Maine, and the beer di inkers were thus enabled to keep their hands in, and to bo qualified when the occasion arose to wield their bludgeons with terrible effect against a common "enemy. This they found in the brewers, who had raised the price of the popular beverage, and upon whom they revenged the wrongs they bad sustained by sacking 16 breweries. The fact that it was necessary to call out the the troops and to fire npon the people, when taken in connexion with what we know of the social condition of Berlin and of the efforts which the Prussian Government is making to arrest the alarmingly large exodus of its subjects to America, denotes that, in spite of the French indemnity and of the recent meeting of the three emperors, everything is not wearing the rosiest of aspects in the Fatherland ; while the unequivocal declaration of hostilities against the Catholic Church which Prince Bismarck has promulgated in an article which appeared in the National Zeitungoi the 10th of February', and is known to have been inspired by him, bodes trouble to an empire with such a mixed population as that of Germany.