This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ... the possibility of such catastrophes, every one must be ready to offer himself up for the good of the state. Of civic independence or municipal self-government no one dared to speak. On the contrary, Frederick made an end of the last relics of the independence and freedom of action of the city magistracies. He ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 Excerpt: ... the possibility of such catastrophes, every one must be ready to offer himself up for the good of the state. Of civic independence or municipal self-government no one dared to speak. On the contrary, Frederick made an end of the last relics of the independence and freedom of action of the city magistracies. He nominated the municipal officials, and interfered personally in all the details of civic administration; and the property of the cities was no less at the king's disposal than their officials. The surplus of their revenues, often attained by scandalous neglect of all municipal institutions, found its way into the royal coffers. But that was not the worst. Still more disastrous was the total extinction of all public spirit and of the last remains of true citizenship among the most intelligent and industrious part of the people. This was the worst, almost the fatal, blot in Frederick's system. "All for the people, nothing through the people," was the watchword of enlightened absolutism. With avaricious parsimony and rigorous severity Frederick watched over the public funds, when the ends in view did not affect the well-being or power of the state. "I have no money, and I am hard of hearing," was his answer to petitions for support, for pensions, and even for the fulfilment of state obligations. To petitions for compensation for the injuries done through the Russians, the king asked, "whether they wished to be indemnified for the damage done by the Flood." Still worse was it that his most meritorious diplomats, in answer to their petitions for reimbursement of their ruinous outlays, received only the rebuff: "Toujours de Vargent f je n'ai rien." This severity in regard to individuals, however, appears intelligible...
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