The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-10 00:00:00

THE ATTACK ON THE BELGIAN PRESS.

(From the Constitutionnel of yesterday.)
It must be accepted as a general fact that no
state can shelter or cover by its legislation those doc-
trines which have for object to menace order or mo-
rality, or foment troubles and excite disturbances
in neighbouring nations. To do no harm is the first
law in the conduct of Governments as well as of in
dividuals ; and he who infringes openly only on this
law must naturally await reprisals. The troubles
of the past two years render still more imperative
this obligation on the part of Governments to f•r
bear, and to prevent others, from attacking the
rights or the tranquillity of neighbouring na.
tions. The revolutionary whirlwind has scattered
the political refugees over many countries, none of
which have refused them a home, but of which none
also should afford the means of satisfying hatred or
revenge. The internal government of one country
should be sacred for other states ; and when an en-
tire nation has chosen and accepted a form of go-
vernment, it does not belong to another foreign
government to attack or permit to be attacked by
sarcasms or abuse the rights of that nation or the
manner in which it has employed them for the in-
terest of its security, prosperity, and glory. The
maintenance of this tolerance, of this mutual respect,
is an European and universal necessity. None can
emancipate themselves from it, without being ex-
posed, and that fruitlessly, to international compli-
cations. Independently of the duties which belong
on this subject to all nations, it must be said that
the Belgian nation possesses special and stronger
duties in consequence of the position it occupies in
Europe, consequent on treaties. When treaties
had placed the security and independence of Bel-
gium under the guarantee of the 'powers, she
accepted bonds of gratitude which she certainly
cannot lightly break, and muoh less !permit to
be broken by strangers who take advantage
of her loyal hospitality. We will not speak
of the particular proofs of interest for which
Belgium is indebted to France ; we are confident
that they are not more forgotten in Brussels
than in Paris. Common sense teaches the
world that the liberty of the press cannot be
more extended than that enjoyed by citizens, and
that a man cannot claim more liberty in a journal
than he enjoys in his house or in the street. Any
citizen who would assume greater liberty, rights, or
privileges, thanithose possessed by his neighbours
would be an enemy of liberty and a tyrant. The
limits of the liberty of the press are then those of the
liberty of the individual; and none can possess. a,
right to effect by means of the press that whichihe
is forbidden to effect by any other means. It would
be both unreasonable and extravagant to claim for
the press rights beyond those enjoyed in private
life. It is therefore imperative that revolutionists
should conform themselves to necessity ; every-
where they will find a refuge, provided they con-
sent to live quietly ; they will find nowhere a
stronghold from whence they can hurl with impu.;
nity their torch of discord and their encouragement
of crime. The lurking holes of Algiers and Morocco
have not been destroyed in order that those of the
Marianne should be respected. (This is an allu-
sion to the secret society bearing that name.)
Honest folks will be protected at home and abroad;
, and the nation will prevail against factious and
• violent minorities in whatever spot they may
) shelter themselves.