PRUSSIA.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 317, 25 December 1862, Page 6

PRUSSIA.

The ministerial ci-ish in Prussia has been wound up by a coup d'etat, which exceeds in boldness all circumstances consiisred, the famous act of violence which plunge i Paris in blood eleven years ago. Th>; story is brief, although its issues are more momentous than can be srasps-d without much, pntient consideration. The Commons sent up the budget to the Lords with th".ir amendments; the Lords struck out the amendments, and passed th^ budget in iU original shipe; thu* mutilated, it was sent back to the Commons; the Commons 'pronouaced the action of the Lords unconstitutional, the Lords having no right tr alter a money-bill, which they must either apcept or ivject in its entirety, and passed, a resolution annulling the vote of the Upper House ; whereupon the King sent down a message dissolving, or adjourning the Parliament;, and fran>ly his determination to carry on public affiira •'outside the conditions prescribed by the constitution ;" that is ro say todi*p-'»*e with the constitution, and take the government., legislative and executive, into his own " hands. A lew. .-weeks will disclosp the first cousc' qufince3 of this outra/e upon popular rights. It; has all the aJvanti<rcs of being unmistakeuble in its character, and of having been accomplished in the open daylight;. One almost holds one's breath while the p ople of Prussi i are gathering themselves ui> for the vindication of their constitution. The King has assured a deputation that waited upon him shortly after the dismissal of the Parliament.'that he is resolved at all hazards tj maintain the position he has taken up. It will readily be conceived that the above events have created no srnill seus.itiou throughout Europe. "We must wait for some days," says the Times, " perhaos for some weeks, before th > consequences of the Prussian coup d'etat can be fully understood. The first eilct of such an act of power is to stun and numb the society on which it is inflicted. It is ea*y to uuderstan 1 that when the royal message informed the assembled deputies that the sovereiga wouH 'wiel.l the public affairs outside, the conditions prescribed by the constitution, and when, accordingly, the sessioi was summarily and prematurely closed, both President and deputies left thi place a* quietly as if it had been an ordinary prorogation. M n mu-t have time for any feeliasr except astonishment, and though do one could doubt that the thro.i'e had"ventured on a serious act of violence, yet ths re-»u ts of it, and the proper ■ourse to be tiken in h <eh an emergency, were matters for at leist a ni^ifc of reflection. As far as wa can judge, the firefc feeling, that tlm is a conflict for t'te existence of Cons ituiional governmtnt in Prussia, has gathered strength with every hour. On every side, the coaduct of the king is conprr.;d with the uafortunate invasion of French liberty by Charles X., or with' another an 1 more euece«-tful usui'pation a fjw yaa's sine?. It h even anticipate Iby some, though we know noi for what reas >v, that aa appeal to universal suffice will be ma le to obtain a ratification of the king's policy. Though, we cannot doubt that this sitspiciou ha* only arisen from the similarity of the evants of 1882 in Prussia to those of 1351, and from the growing fashion of asking for every abrupt change the sanction of a plebiscite, yet tj • very idea show how much importance is attached in Prasia and abroad to tha coup d'Uat of King William The king has but kept up the tradition of his liou-e, which .has .always been tint the Prussian States are a sacroii charge, which the sovereign must govern to the best of his own knowledge, and defend to the utmost of his strength, without caning for the adverse opiuion of hi* own subjects or foreigner*. In all matter.* connected with the army we iiave little doubt that King WH.'iatn ha? made upv his mind to be absolute, and he evident y does- not he>itate to tell his subj'ect3 this in the most forcible language i The reply of the deputies and of the constituents lias | yet to coaie. It is said that the Liberal representa-! tiye3-will.bereceived with enthusiasm :by the places i wuich have sent tjiem to thy Legislature. If the'J najfioa beVai unaiiimou3 as its Chamber/ if Prussia deelaf^sjenergeticaly thatit doeshot value these high tiiet)ues,;pf paternal government, it is! possible that even.thel bold King VViljiimj tniy have to retract."