POLITICAL ACTIVITY. 245 



believed that Prussia as a state would secure the union 

 of Germany, but our hope rested entirely on the ulti- 

 mate victory of liberal sentiments in the German and 

 particularly the Prussian people. This revulsion of 

 feeling explains the events of the period of conflict, 

 which would be scarcely intelligible without it. 



Up to the year 1860 I was so fully occupied 

 with scientific and technical labours that I kept entirely 

 aloof from politics. Only when under the Regency of 

 the Prince of Prussia the political stagnation and the 

 pessimism, which had till then almost exclusively pre- 

 vailed, had diminished, and freeer political views had 

 again ventured to come forth, did I join the National * 

 Association formed under the lead of Bennigsen, and 

 patronized by Duke Ernest of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. 

 I was present at the meeting which constituted it at 

 Coburg, and continued to take part in its aims as 

 faithful ally. Through this and my lively activity at 

 the elections for the Diet I became more intimately 

 acquainted with the leading politicians of the liberal 

 party. I attended the meetings of the new liberal 

 party then in process of formation, and assisted at 

 the deliberations concerning its programme and name. 

 The majority was inclined to vote for the name of 

 "Democratic Party*', whilst Schulze-Delitzsch wished 

 to call it the "German Party*'. I proposed the name 

 of ' 'Progressive Party*', as it seemed to me more*: 

 proper to designate the direction of activity rather 

 than the principles by the party name. It was re- 

 solved to combine my proposal with that of Schulze- 



