The Sun.
London, England, 1858-12-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS IN PRUSSIA.

(From the Times.)
Baron Manteuffel and the late Prussian Ministry
• handled the difficulty of a free press with far greater
adroitness than any continental statesman of our
time. .Look at the brutal soladtesque manner in
which the French Government deals with its re-
fractory sheep. A sergeant of dragoons would have
quite as brilliant ideas upon the subject as the Im-
perial censor of the Parisian press. If any remark
or notice appears in the columns of any among our
French contemporaries which may be displeasing
to the Emperor or his Ministers, or his Court, or the
director of the Opera, or the court hairdresser,
an " order" is straightway despatched directing
what shall be done. If this " order" be repeated
twice or thrice there is an end of the offending
print. The chapter of confiscation has begun.
This is the milder method of treatment for
gentle infractions of the- system. Substitute the
word "offensive" for " displeasing,' and the unfor-
tunate editors and proprietors must make up their
minds to the rigours of war. There was theproces
Montalembert the other day. Was there ever
such an idle and impotent display
.of force for so
insufficient a cause ? If we can point out how the
same end can be accomplished with every form of
politeness, and with every outward deference to the
public opinion of the country, even the advisers
of the French Emperor will admit that we have
done them good service. Now, it surely would
have been much better if, in place of this clumsy
prosecution of M. de Montalembert, it could have
been so managed that the stinging parts of the
vamphlet had been turned into neat compliments
to the Imperial system ; or, perhaps still better,
into what our neighbours call des grosses betises,
which would have excited the hilarity of the public
at the author's expense. A few judicious inter-
polations to the effect that in the middle of the
discussion " Sir Pakington" and " Sir Grey" had
come to blows, or that the Opposition had inflamed
their courage with little glasses of " rhum," which
were carried about by the Sergeant-at-Arms and
the Lord Mayor, would certainly have divested the
pamphlet of some portion of its authority.
Matters can be so dexterously managed that the
author should never dare to whisper a word of the
alterations in his. MS. With anonymous publica-
tions it is still easier to carry out this system which
it is the glory of Baron Manteuffel to have de-
vised. Paris has still something to learn from
Berlin.
The system to which we are about to call the
attention of the French and of the Continental
Governments generally is familiarly known by the
Prussian sufferers as the " Apostolic system." The
first step in it is the formation of a "Central Press
Bureau." •A few trustworthy men are placed over
this, and their first efforts are directed to the for-
mation of a competent staff of writers. The most
available recruits for the purpose are considered to
be the young and enthusiastic men of letters who
compromised themselves in 1848. If they would
re establish a character with the Government such

as woukl entitle them at a future day to employ.
ment in any department of the service of the State,
they must hold themselves at the disposal of the
Central Press Bureau. As they have fought in the
opposite ranks, it is supposed, and not without rea-
son, that they will be the most competent persona
to act against their former opinions. For a certain
time they are held in leadingstrings, and carefully
indoctrinated in the finer and more subtle learning
of Prussian Kingcraft. When their education
complete they are entered as R Apostles." So far
for the staff of the Bureau ; but, in order that
an apt field may be found for their labours, it
is the constant duty of the Central Press Bureau
to keep an eye upon all the newspapers which are
published throughout the Prussian dominions.

-Should it some niorning, appear that the Branden-
burg Bee or the Silesian People's Friend has ad-
mitted into its columns a paragraph announcing
that "His Sacred Majesty was observed to sneeze,
from which the more advanced Liberals had drawn
a deduction that a cold in the head would be a
not impossible solution of the catarrh difficulty ;"
or expressed an opinion inimical to the Siberian
development of the Russian system, or been
guilty of any other mild act of imprudence of the
like kind, the editor or proprietor receives a corn-

munication from the Central Bureau. Although
couched in courteous terms, he is informed that a
paternal Government cannot,- without a dereliction
of duty, view the dissemination of such venomous
opinions among the population. The Central
Bureau is willing to believe—nay, is convinced,
that there is no ill will or culpable endeavour to
mislead the public ; but, still, when the conductor
of a journal has been guilty of one act of impru•
uence, be may be guilty of another. In order to
avoid unpleasant consequences the Central Press
Bureau is willing to come to the assistance of the
bewildered editor. An " Apostle" shall be sent to
him, who, of course, in recompense for the services
he renders, must be suitably entertained. This
" Apostle," a gentlemancin whom the Central Press
Bureau has eritireits of dence, will keep the editor
points
lfi
straight upon all political controversy ;
he will run his eye over' the
suitablearticles, strike out any
obnoxious phrases, or addones, as the case
may be; he will keep the columnsv,,ieh of the journal
h clear of any announcement _
might possibly
get its conductors into trouble—for it must not be
lost sig,ht of throughout the discussion that it is
the imperative duty of the Government to suspend
the license of
.any erring journal. The Central
Press Bureau, however.—careful for the interests
of individuals, and anxious not to interfere with
the property of any Prussian subject—is gra_
ciously pleased, in order that such unpleasant
consequences may be avoided, to have recourse in
the first instance to the mildei system of trying
what an " Apostle" can do to reclaim the wander-
ing Press-sheep, and bring it back by gentle
methods to sweet waters and pleasant pastures. . _

The mission is a delicate One, and Must require
considerable judgment. It would, of course, be
a very simple matter to turn a Liberal journal at
one effort into the despotic groove ; but Baron
Manteuffel was far too shrewd a man to wish that

done. The duty of the " Apostle" was to keep the
paper ostensibly on its own line, but to denude
its attitude of anything which could cause a
moment of serious disquiet to the Government. It