"An die Bürger und Einwohner Berlin´s. - Wozu dienen und wozu führen die Katzen-Musiken?"

“To the citizens and residents of Berlin”
Appeal by an anonymous citizen, 30 May 1848

This poster expresses the concerns of an anonymous citizen who calls himself “completely uninvolved, on behalf of many”. He is concerned about the “cat music” made by informal groups of poorer, primarily young people. There have been six or eight of these noisy demonstrations every night now in late May – for a veritable fever of cat music. The middle classes are annoyed. Hardly anyone speaks publicly in favour of this form of expressing discontent.

The anonymous author of the poster tries to describe the nocturnal activities in nuanced terms: cat music might be justified if made by groups that reflect public opinion at large and that oppose individuals deserving of “disapproval”. However, if made by “callow lads” and “the rabble”, making a fuss over “petty” things, then the protest only leads to stricter laws and regulations that jeopardise the democratic rights achieved thus far. Cat music gatherings are in fact prohibited shortly thereafter.

This statement represents the attitude of many members of the bourgeoisie in the revolutionary period, with progressive ideas and hopes for reform. They want orderly political progress. They do not desire unchecked excesses with uncertain consequences. At this point in time, fear of the “rabble” and anarchy outweighs that of the old elites regaining power, which is happening to an ever greater extent.