Stahl's Speech 'What Is Revolution?'

Following the French Revolution of 1789, political ideologies began to surface as a result of an increased chance to engage in political discourse, something that was rare outside of the Monarch’s court. As ideas of liberalism, an ideology with a focus on individual human rights began to surface, conservatives with the desire to maintain the Ancien Regime retorted with anti-nationalistic sentiment. In his speech “What is revolution?”, delivered in 1852, conservative Friedrich Julius Stahl denounces the revolution, liberalism and nationalism. In his rhetoric, he warns that by placing humankind's rights and benefit over that of the Lord is a dangerous road to further transgressions. In contrast, the German Progressive Party’s Founding Program created in June 1861 …show more content…
Stahl defines the revolution by its demands. He outlines these as popular sovereignty, freedom, equality, separation of church and state, and a charter, or constitution. These align with the principles of liberalism and rationalism, which Stahl denounces blasphemous. Stahl view the revolution as a political sin, specifically that humankind are turning their backs on the lord. He believes the revolution, derived from the ideal of rationalism, has cause man to “push God off His throne and place himself on his chair” (Stahl, 7). Stahl rejects the notion of liberalism, and instead finds his views deeply nestled in traditionalism. Stahl believes in the organically grown systems of the Ancien Regime, stating that “rationalism and revolution are not constant” (Stahl, 7). He argues that the organic progression of the rigid class system in place during the Ancien Regime are apart of God’s plan, and therefore, by