The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1876-02-19 00:00:00

kItii7tI,qAIWRCK AND THE PRESS.

The following is the most interesting passage of Prince
Bismarck's speech in the Reichstag, on the Press clause in
the Penal Code Bill, says the Correspondent of The Times :
" The exaggerated extension of foreign articles and
the credulous thirst for foreign diplomatic news excuse
newspaper editors to a great extent. It is the fault of
the reading public. Our Parliamentary institutions
are new • let us hope they will have the effect of attract-
ing greater attention to German affairs, and that we shall
not, for instance, be enlightened by telegrams as to a
French Deputy having spoken at Carcassonne, whereas
it might be of more interest to learn what had happened
at Breslau or Konigsberg. The newspapers busy them- ,
selves too much with foreign compared with domestic
affairs. Tile only evil of this is that credulous people
suffer. Peace is now disturbed by newspaper articles.
In modern times a war has hardly ever sprung out of
such controversies; and even the French war of 1870,
in which the Press, but only the Ministerial Press,
apparently, played a great part, was not occasioned by
the Press but by the then Imperial French Camarilla.
It haunted us even in 1867. Nobody makes war on
newspaper articles ; not even such as those published
last Spring by some not altogether officious papers,
calculated to unsettle the Bourse. I mean the Post,
for which I have never inspired articles least of all
that with the heading 'War in Sight.' But I did not
blame the article, for, if people feel that in any country
a minority is instigating war, they should make an out-
cry, that the majority may be on the alert ; for the
majority have commonly no inclination for war. War
is always kindled by minorities only, or, formerly, in
despotic States, by the Ruler or Cabinet; but he who
first cries ' fire ' is certainly not guilty of the war or
conflagration. Were there really a Minister who
wanted to get up war without cause he would begin
quite differently than by raising an alarm in the Press,
for that would only summon the fire brigade. Before
all things he would have to gain his Sovereign's ap-
proval, without which a Minister enjoying the highest
confidence cannot make war. Now, what if the
Emperor and Minister were agreed not to make war.
The Emperor has been forced to make wars. He has
made them unwillingly— with difficulty making
up his mind to them. He has earned a great
fame. in them. His Majesty is at an age when
people generally do not seek business nobody,
therefore, will believe that he is disposed to war.
This being so, all the talk of war-loving Ministers is
humbug. (Laughter.) Think of the position if a
year ago I had come before you, and had explained to
you, as in 1870, when we were threatened with the
French attack : ---` We must make war. I cannot give
yoli any very definite ground for it. We are not in-
sulted, but the situ diem is dangerous. We have a
multitude of powerful armies as neighbours; the '
French army is being res-organised in such a way
as to be really disquieting. 'I ask you for a lean of
200,000,000 thalers in order to arm ourselves?'
Would you not be inclined to send for a doctor?
(Laughter.) To ask me how, after my long political
• experience, I could commit the colossal stupidity
of coming before you and sating—' It is possible
we may in a few years be again attacked. To
anticipate it, let us quickly fall on our neighbours and
cut them to pieces before they are perfectly ready.' It
would be something like committing stickle otit of fear
of death, and that in a quite comfortable and tranquil
situation, in which nobody ic thinlcing of war. If you
look at the thing in full daylight, you will see the im-
possibility
,of a responsible Chancellor acting thus to-
wards a peace-loving people, as the Germans are when
not attacked. We have nothing to conquer, nothing
to win; we are contented with what we have, and it is
a calumny to accuse us of any thirst for conquest or
territorial extension. (Loud cheers.) To appear be-
fore a peace-loving people and say war must be de- I
dared would naturally result in my dismissal."