“As to the common people, ... one has to be hard with them and see that they do their work and that under the threat of the sword and the law they comply with the observance of piety, just as you chain up wild beasts.”
Luther thought highly of the peasants. He was deeply concerned about their spiritual well being that had atrophied under years of domination of the Papacy. He translated the Bible into the vernacular so the peasants could understand it. Luther wrote a Large and Small catechism so that peasants could learn the Christian faith. (In fact, the faith of the peasant was so bad that he named his first catechism, "A catechism to the Pagan Germans.") He destroyed the Canonical Law -- enabling people to focus on Christ, not on the church's edicts which were not tied to the Bible. He also went around to each church and ensured that there were pastors who were trained to preach christ -- not just collect money for the church. He set up a method to train pastors so that the peasants could be spiritually cared for.
“Luther thought highly of the peasants.”
You clearly have not read Luther in his own words. Sad.