The Sun.
London, England, 1823-10-03 00:00:00

GERMANY.

'

0 it

fight we to be astonished that the political
stateof 'Germany bas, again become a subject of
regret to the friends of liberty ? Philosophy seems
in vain to have prepared this people for a civill.
SOO full of dignity. The prevailing system is
oppoped not only to the, simultaneous progress
of, political institutions and human knowledge,
but too all the guarantees which time had already
introduced, or the Princes had voluntarily grant-
ed. By the organ of the Diet, the promised
libeßies have already been refused, and those
whiab existed. suspended. The, Constitutions of
Baiaria, Baden, and Wirtemberg are regarded
with distrust. It is impossible to have forgotten
that Prince Metternich 'wrote in a confidential
letter to Baron I3erstett these remarkable words:
The preservation 'of that which exists is the
only means of maintaining the rights which re-
and perhaps of gaining back those which
are already lost." The whole of the policy of
this!Statesman, and perhaps of many others, is
contained in these words. It is not only station,
ary, but behind the respect for what exists is coo.
cealed the wish to re-establish what 'was... _The
undertaking is difficult, but it is attempted. Those,
who attempt it know 'well that the progress of time
cannot be arrested, but its progress has no terrors
except the human mind progresses wittrit, and of
forts ere making to stop -
the mind in its progress.
This policy aims its chiefs blows at the press, for it i
is the most powerful and active enemy, and is the
object of a constant and obstinate hatred. Facts
confirm the avowal made by. the Austrian Minis.
ter, and prove that the policy of this Cabinet is
not limited to preserving. Before the Congress
of Carlsbad, the Liberty of the Press did exist
in Germany, in all the Protestant States of Ger-
many, and even in Prussia, though somewhat op.'
posed by the laws of that country. The new
Constitutions of Munich, Stutgard, Carisruhe, of
Weimar, formerly recognized it. Did the Diet
at Frankfort respect what existed when it- este,
blished a severe and active Censorship throughout
Germany ? Did it respect what existed when
it destroyed the ancient' privileges of the
German Universities ? Did It respect
pies, 'universally recognized,' when it interfered
with the adininistratiow of• independent States,
to annul, particular laWs? Diplomacy only
cupies itself in preserving when it has triumphed
over all modern liberties, all guarantees for•
national rights, and over that knowledge whic4
is also a guarantee ; when it has made u conquest
on the territory of the dark ages, revived some
ancient institutions of the Germans, of who it
always-speaks mostatfectionately, and has put on
one side abstract theories and foreign models, it
then thinks of preserving. Some diplomatists
insult liberty by calling it foreign. INlore severe
measures are agitated and recommended every
day. The Censorship does not satisfy a Power
impatient of every criticism, A Stutgard Jour.
nitl„publisited some remarks of one of the most
celebrated Civilians of that town ; the Censor
had not thought them dangeroui; the Diet at
Prankfort, however, prosecuted the Journal,
sOppressed it, and punished the'author. Noir
intatettetions,' given to the Censors in liataria;
merit attention, and are distinguished from other
attempts 'against the liberty of ihe press. It is
not a Minister, who, jealous of his power, de.
sires' to place his acts above criticism and contra-
diction. It 'is one of the powerful Cabinets
of Europe which, discontented with seeing its
projects revealed to the public, prohibits all re-
.marks on its political views, and forbids any one
phrase to be printed, censuring the conduct of the
Greta Powers; and the Cabinet which has issued
this order is one which has announced its inter.
lion of restoring order in. Europe, and to efface
the trace of every Revolution. This recalls to
us the words pronounced in our Tribune," Order
for them is absolute power—order for us is si.
lence." The Cabinet of Austria has not appear.
ed, it is true, its this affair, but it had no right to
appear, and force is only employed whets the in-
terest at stake is important. But there was no
need. Had it not the Diet which has so often
obeyed its will, to publish its orders ? From these
new severities we may conclude that the libertyof
the press is not at present vie w edwith a more fa votfr-
ableeye by the men who rule over Germany than it
was at the Congress of Caribad. The five years,
however, fixed by the Diet to put the Decrees in
execution, which suspend this liberty and este.
blish the censorhhip, draw near their close ; will
the execution of these laws be prolonged There
is nothing to make us hope for e-better fate for
Germany'; when two parties are contending in
the field, liberty may be the reward of. victory.
But here force prevails, and there-is no contest ;
anti every day and every hour it creases,the pre.
veiling foece., TheifritgtnentS of a Constitution
recently given to some provinces of Prussia, will
lead forward' no • sensible change in their condi-
tion ; for wherever the press is enslaved--when.
ever there is no public tribunal—there no true
liberty can eicijitt We ..,ere far, however, front
giving up all hope Uf' seeing the Germans obtain
a better destiny. Liberty dwells in the hearts of
the people, and perhaps even in the hearts of
some Princes, who only submit from prudence ;
'and we must have faith in the coming of liberty
as in the coining of justice. --(Le Courier
.F'reinfais.)

MURDEft of Mit. FRANKS AND
are happy to state, frotn- the Dublin gapers, of
Saturday; just received, that six, of the thOrcieftrs
of the FItANKS Patuilyi ha ve.. been appri•hentled
and lodged in Doneraile Gaol. Sheehan', the
younger. brother of the man-transported;; upon
the. 'evidence of Mr. ,FnAstus,-, jun., turned, in.
foriner.---(Glasgow Courier, Sep44o.)„
MEtANCIHOLIC' &cm ksyr.--Yesterday‘
I. fowl yanagOentlenier4 nettled AloonT' tietirk. HAiSO
411t1 111TeilltliN, who! had- lately ,arrivedim 'town from the
country, hired 'a borate:Westminster to go and see the Tower
end rhe'Londomt'-Docks Mit Unfortunately they trusted to their
own skilfulness in'rnanaging the mat,, and declined taking ant,
Waterman. They went on .very well till they passed Isondon!
lltldg.e, :and then they considered tit eMselves past alt:dastger,,
hut the tide running vOt'Y drong they kept close to the road of
craft and barges, without considering that this was the most
deng raft' put.s A long-nable which er.tended across, and to
which a barge was fastenediobstrueted them, and not,ktio)fillie
hoVito I“,nrdlt, Aber gulled away harder, .and the boa. ts
when the four were precipated into the water. n onson Along
to the beat; Hitchnihn and Moody could swim, and Ouse threo
were picked up by some waterman ; but Dmul sunk, and un-
_fortunately was drowned.