The Express.
London, England, 1868-02-14 00:00:00

1111

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TOliitON N
erms DAY.)

FS.

THE FRENCH PRESS BILL
The debates upon the French Press Bill con-
tinuo to occupy the attention of the Paris journals
and to give rise to pointed allusions and personali-
ties in the Chamber. On Wednesday the following
article wan under discussion :
A condemnation for crime committed by means of the
press entails absolutely the suppression of the journal
who.o Oran! has been condemned. In the cue of a es-
petition of the offence within two years of the first con-
demnation for offences of the pries other than those com-
mitted against private individuals, the tribunals can, in re-
pressing a new misdemeanour of the same nature, pronounce
the suspension of the journal or periodical for a period
of not less than fifteen days nor more then two months.
A suspension of from two to six months may be prononneaxi
for a third condemnation, within a similar interval ; also
under a first judgment or decree of condemnation, if the
latter be incurred for instigating to any of the crimes men-
tioned in articles 86, 87, and 91 of the Penal Code, or for
the offence provided against by Art 9 of the law of the
17th alay, 1819. During the entire duration of the sus-
pension tile caution money will remain deposited in the
Treasury, and will not be susceptible of any other desti-
nation.
M. Gueroult, in moving an amendment, drew a
distinction between cases of crime and press
ocencea. Be said :
A crime is easily defined and known ; a press offence is
to be discovered only in an arbitrary way, it is but the
strong expression of an opinion which is not that of the
government ; it consists of words, and lies usually in these
perfidious parts of speech, adjectives and adverbs.
(Laughter.) A substantive which would pass unincri-
mutated becomes an offence if an adjective be joined to it.
A suspension of two months is equivalent to death to a
journal. I have known a case in which, out of 34,000 sub.
scrils.rs, only 17,000 remained after that interval. One of
from two to six months is still more severe.
DI. Latour du Moulin, who supported the
amendment, produced a great effect by quoting the
following words which were addressed by Napoleon
let to Benjamin Constant :
" Public discussions, free elections, responsible ministers,
the liberty of tke press—all those things I wish to see ;
the freedom of the press, above all ; to stifle it is absurd.
I am thoroughly convinced on this last point—"
U. E. l'EttErAN—Rather late in the day !
U. LATOUR no MOULIN—" I am the man of the people;
if the people desire liberty, I am bound to give
it them. I have acknowledged the popular sovereignty ;
I n.nst necessarily leud au ear to its wishes, even to its
caprices. . . . I foresee a di-lcult struggle, a long war.
To sustain it, the nation mast support mo ; but in return,
it will, I think, require liberty. I ask for nothing better
than to be enlightened. I ant growing old. A man at
forty-five is not what he was at thirty. The repose of •
constitutional king would suit me very well, and my son
still better." Gentlemen (said the speaker), I can hardly
suppose that the intelligence or sincerity of Newburg L
will be questioned by the Ministers of Napoleon 111.
(Applause on many benches.)
M. YLtrume to supporting the government clause, made
personal allusion to U. Latour du Moulin, who was
director-general of the press in 1852.
11. au lioutnt—The bon. member was not of the num-
ber either of the signitaries or the voters of an amend-
ment. . . . (Interruption.)
U. MATHIEU-4 do not make a display of my liberalism.
M. LATOUR DU MOULIN—I do not discuss your liberalism.
I believe I have given proof of more than you. (Noisy
reclamation.)
The Paisiorarr—l beg you to avoid these personalities
which only disturb the discussion. (Rear, hear.)
M. LATOUR DO MOULIN—It was not I who first entered
on this ground. I was attacked and I defend myself.
The amendment was loot, and the clause carried.