Democratic Sentinel, Volume 5, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 August 1881 — The Assassination of Kotzebne. [ARTICLE]

The Assassination of Kotzebne.

Augustus von Kotzebue, a famous dramatic writer, author, among a number of other plays, of “ The Stranger” and “Pizarro,” lived a life full of strange vicissitudes, and expired in the following tragic manner : The Emperor of Russia was extremely anxious to influence or forestall opinion in Germany. For this purpose Kotzebue was employed. He established a journal, in which he opposed all progress and the liberty of the press. A paper intended only for the eye of the Emperor Alexander, in which Kotzebue described one of his opponents in journalism as ‘ ‘ the most detestable instrument of hell, ” at length, in 1818, revealed the full treachery of this literary hireling, and raised a cry of indignation against him throughout Germany. The exposure compelled him to quit Weimar. He next took up his abode at Mannheim, wlinro ho his perfidious work; and, at a time when all Germany was ringing with echoes of the French revolution, proclaimed himself the enemy of liberty and the friend of despotism. This alone would have been sufficient to have brought down upon him the indignation of the enthusiasts ; but when to this was added the knowledge that he was the mouthpiece of a foreign despot, who was desirous of establishing an authority over the country, indignation rose to ungovernable hatred. He had made himself particularly conspicuous in applauding the dismissal of 1,200 students from Gottingen, on account of a brawl between them and the citizens, and a morbid young student, named Charles Louis Sand, took upon himself to avenge, a la Charlotte Corday, the cause of liberty and the Fatherland. On the 9th of March, 1819, he left Jena on foot for Mannheim, and arrived there on the 23d. Dressed in old German costume, and assuming the name of Henricks, he presented himself at Kotzebue’s bouse, un the pretense that he had brought letters from Weimar. After two ineffectual attempts, he at length gained admission, and was shown into a private room; scarcely had the victim crossed the threshold when Sand plunged a long poniard into his breast, and when he had fallen, to make his work sure, inflicted three more wounds upon the body. The noise of the scuffle speedily brought servants and family to the tragic scene, and the assassin was found, dagger in hand, quietly contemplating the dying man. Yet no one attempted to arrest him, and he descended the staircase, and presented himself before the throng of people, whom the cries of ‘‘ Murder! ’’had already gathered about the spot, and, still flourishing the poniard in one hand and a written paper in the other, exclaimed, “I am the murderer, and it is thus that all traitors should die. ” Then he fell upon his knees, and clasping his hands raised them to heaven, exclaiming, “ I thank Thee, Oh, God, for having permitted me successfully to fulfill this act of justice. ” Upon the paper were inscribed the words, “Deathblow for Augustus von Kotzebue in the name of virtue. ” No sooner had he spoken the last words than, tearing open his waistcoat, he repeatedly plunged the weapon into his own bosom, and fell to the ground. He was now, in a swooning condition, conveyed to prison, but as soon as he recovered he tore off his bandages and made the most desperate efforts to put an end to his life. At the trial his handsome person and his calm exaltation excited the utmost sympathy, and he went to the scaffold devoutly believing that he had performed an act of noble self-devotion, and far more pitied by the populace than was his miserable victim.