Daily Richmond Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1828-1831, 1830-09-06
PANS, July 90, 1890.


your Hghncss the dangers arising from the perodi-
cal press
At period during the last fifteen years has this
situation presented itself under more serious and
aflictiDg aspect Notwithstanding a prosperity IN
eXampled the annals of history signs of disorran-
izaton and symptoms Of anarchy are manifested up
on al'nos, every point Of the Kingdom.
; The successive causes which have conduced tn
weaken the springs of the mona rchial government,
operate to-day to alter and change its naturc-dc-
prived of its moral force, the civil authority within
the capital and IN the provinces, maintained but an
unequal contest against factions. Perncious and
subversive doctrines openly protested are spread and
propaguted among oil classes Of population--dis-
quetudes too generally accredited agiate the public
mind and torment society From all quarters q guar
antee ia demanded for future security
righteousness, active. ardent ipdefatigable, is
wora To The foundations of order and TO de-
prIve France OF the happiness which she enjoyed I'M
der the scepre of her kings. Active in working dis
content and stirring up hatredit fomen,s among the
people spirit of defiance and hostility against go
vernnent and seeks every where 20 the seeds Of
dlscord and of civil
And. Sire. recent events have already proved that
political f. isgs confined heretofore the higher
ranks OF society, are beginning TO he more generally
felt and TO excite the popular mass. They have
proved also that this is not always agltaed with
out danger TO those who strive to its
pose.
multitude of facts collected during .he course
of the late electoral operations confirm these state
mens, and afford too certain presage OF new COM
''''''','' 49, NV 'isJNSNJ P"'SNSS fN"~' -
remedypg the evil
To an attentirc observer, there every where ex-
lists necessity for order, force and permanency,
and the Disturbances which appear the most oppo-
sed 20 such necessity, IN reality but the express
sion and testimony of il.
These agItatlons which cannot he increased with
great peril, almost exclusively produced and
excited by the liberty allowed to the press. y law
OF elections not less prolific disorders, has without
doubt concurred, assisted to maintain them but
must deny the evidence of not 10 in
the periodicals the principal focus OF corrupt on,
the progress OF which becomes daily more sensible
the origin OF the calaEItIcs which threat II the
kingdom.
Experience, Sire, speaks louder than theory; Ell
lghtcncd even without doubt, whose patriotism can
not be suspected, carried away by the example OF q
neighboring people. have believed that the advanta
ges of the periodical press would be neutralzed b.
contrary excuses. 1t Is not so--the proof IS deer
sive and the question is now determined.
At all epochs the periodical press has only been.
and from It's nature must ever be, an instrument o!
disorder and sedltIon.
How numerous and rrcfuable are the proofs that
may be brought support this truth. 1t ia by the
violent and uninterrupted action of the press that
10 attribute those too sudden and too frequent
changes IN internal policy II has not permit ed
regular and stable system of government t. be es-
tabished in France nor that continued and strenu-
efforts should be made to introduce into the
rious branches OF public administration those ame!lo
rations of which they susceptible Every ministry
since 1914. though formed under different circum
stances and actuaIed BY different impulses. have been
exposed TO the attacks and to the same unbr
died expressions of passion Sacrifices of every kind
concessions of power, alliances OF party, nothing has
been able to protect them from this common destiny
This fact ane fertile IN reflections, suffces TO
assign the press its true and unavailable character
It abors by continuous and persevering Efforts. daily
repeated TO loosen all the bonds of obedience and
subordnation weaken the springs of public nu-
thority, sink and Gebase it in the opinion of the
people, and create for II every where embarrass-
ments and resistance.
It's art consists not IN substituting for a credu!ous
submission of the mind the healthy liberty of exami
nation, but reduce the positive truths to pro-
blens; not to inGiIe frank and useful controversy
upon political questions but to present them in false
! light, and 10 resolve them by sopbisnIs.
The press has thus dsordered the most upright
minds, shaken the irmest convictions, and produced
! in the bosoms of society confusion of principles
hich favors the disastrous attempts. Anarchy
, IN doctrines is prelude to anarchy III The state.
IL is gorthy of remark, Sire. that the periodical
press has never fulfilled It's essential condition,
namely that there is publicity in France, taking
thus word IN Its Just and rigorous acccptaton Ia the
actual state oftngs, facts when they moi entirely
suggestions only presented 10 many millions OF
readers curtuiled disfgurcd and mutIlated IN most
/ odous manner. A thick cloud raised by the Jour
nas dsruises the truth ana in a measure prevents 0
perfec, understanding between The government and
tho people. The kings your predecessors, Sire. have
been DESTROYS freely TO communicate with their sub
iccs, but this is satisfaction which the press rot
wiling that your Majesty should enjoy
! 4 RIGHTEOUSNESS which has outs,rppCd oil bounds,
oven upon the most solemn occasions, aud neither
spcced the express wishes ofhe king the address
made 10 them from the throne. The one has been
mistaken or perverted, and the other has been the
subject of commentary bitter de. sIon 1t Is thus
that the last act of royal authority, the procsma
ton, fcl into general discredit even before it was
known TO The electors.
This is not al--the Press has tendency TO sub
jugate the sovereignty and usurp tho powers of The
slate The pretended organ Of public opinion, It
asplres to direct the debates in the two chambers,
and ucontesbiy exercises an influence upon those
debates, no less banCiul than deceptive. This do
minion in tho Chamber OF Deputies, especially for the
last two or three years, has assumed manifest
character of oppression and tyranny. We have
seen in this interval the journals pursuing with In
sult and outrage members whose vote appeared to
them other uncertain or suspected. Too oiten,
Sire, the fcedIm OF the deliberations IN this cham
Der has fallen sacrifice TO the renewed attacks OF
the press
We cannot qualify, IN moro moderate terms, tho
conduct Of the opposition journals III relation to re-
cent events. Amer having themselves provoked Oh
address, attacking tho prcrngalivCs of the throne