CHAPTER XIV.

1848.

Wagner significantly silent as to his participation in the Saxon Revolution, 1848-49--Wagner an active worker--Conclusive proof--A member of the “Fatherland Union”--Paper read by Wagner before the Union--His character--Charge of ingratitude towards his king absurd--Deputation to king of Saxony--The four demands of the people--Refused--Leipzic determines to march _en masse_ on Dresden--Reforms promised--Founding of the “Fatherland Union”--Political leaflets printed and distributed--Wagner reads his paper June 16, 1848: “What is the relation that our republican efforts bear to the monarchy?”--Printed by the Union--Copy forwarded to me at the time--Reproduced here--It is omitted from Wagner’s “Collected Writings”--An important document, since it forms part of the official indictment against Wagner--The paper treats of (1) relation of republic to monarchy; (2) nobility appealed to and urged to join in the commonwealth; (3) abolition of first chamber; (4) manhood suffrage advocated; (5) creation of national armies; (6) communism a senseless theory and its reign impossible; (7) appeal to improve the impoverished condition of the masses by timely concessions; (8) founding of colonies; (9) the greatest and most far-reaching reforms only possible under a republic of which the monarch is the head; (10) the king logically the first republican; (11) “subjects” converted into “free citizens”; (12) war against the office of king and not against the person; (13) laudation of the Saxon potentate; (14) Wagner’s fidelity to the king; (15) advocates the abolition of the monarchy--National armies--Roeckel, Wagner’s assistant conductor, dismissed, autumn, 1848--Founds a political paper; Wagner contributes--Roeckel imprisoned for three days--The elections--Triumph of the democratic party--Roeckel elected a deputy--Revision of taxation and civil list--Subsidy to the theatre: Wagner defends it in paper delivered to minister; Roeckel to defend it in the chamber--Details of the paper.....151