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〃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 him and his advisers
to utter that word；〃 said Nugent。 〃Austria can no longer retrace her
steps； she must advance。 Austria must lead Germany in the sacred
struggle for liberty； she can no longer retrace her steps。〃
〃God grant that your words may be verified！〃 cried John； lifting his
tearful eyes to heaven； 〃God grant that〃
A low rapping at the door leading to the small secret corridor
caused the archduke to pause and turn his eyes with a searching
expression to this door。
The rapping was repeated； more rapidly than before。
〃It is Hormayr；〃 exclaimed the archduke； joyfully； and he hastened
to the secret door and opened it quickly。
A tall young man； in the uniform of an Austrian superior officer；
appeared in the open door。 The archduke grasped both his hands and
drew him hastily into the cabinet。
〃Hormayr； my friend；〃 he said； breathlessly； 〃you have returned from
the Tyrol？ You have succeeded in fulfilling the mission with which I
intrusted you？ You have carried my greetings to the Tyrolese？ Oh；
speak； speak； my friend！ What do my poor； deserted Tyrolese say？〃
Baron von Hormayr fixed his flashing dark eyes with an expression of
joyful tenderness on the excited face of the archduke。
〃The Tyrolese send greeting to the Archduke John；〃 he said； 〃the
Tyrolese hope that the Archduke John will deliver them from the
hateful yoke of the Bavarians； the Tyrolese believe that the hour
has arrived； when they may recover their liberty； and to prove this…
…〃
〃To prove this？〃 asked the archduke； breathlessly； when Hormayr
paused a moment。
〃To prove this；〃 said Hormayr； in a lower voice； stepping up closer
to the prince； 〃some of the most influential and respectable
citizens of the Tyrol have accompanied me to Vienna； they desire to
assure your imperial highness of their loyal devotedness； and
receive instructions from you。〃
〃Is Andreas Hofer； the landwirth； among them？〃 asked the archduke；
eagerly。
〃He is； and so are Wallner and Speckbacher。 I bring to your imperial
highness the leading men of the Tyrolese peasants； and would like to
know when I may introduce them to you； and at what hour you will
grant a private audience to my Tyrolese friends？〃
〃Oh； I will see them at once！〃 exclaimed John； impatiently。 〃My
heart longs to gaze into the faithful； beautiful eyes of the
Tyrolese； and read in their honest faces if they really are still
devoted and attached to me。 Bring them to me； Hormayr； make haste
but no； I forgot that it is broad daylight； and that the spies
watching me have eyes to see； ears to hear； and tongues to report to
the emperor as dreadful crimes all that they have seen and heard
here。 We must wait；