Weekly national intelligencer., 1848-11-11
NATIONAL INTELLIGENCEI.
FRou OUR EUROPEAN CORRESPONDENT.
LONDON, October 25, ls4s

\ mighty power mas sprungFup III Europe during
tie last hail century, which has done more towads
reyolutonizing The habits Of thinking and eelig,
and speaking and acting OF the people, than all ne
edicts Of Popes. Enperors Kings, or all the po-
ceedings of Conclayes, Congresses, or Parliamers.
! aude TO the power Of the Printing Press, *
ertcd through the medium of the public iourns
and newspapers. This power, buti for good and Or
evil, is probably paramount TO any other at the Pc
sent day, and my especially be traced i'll all tie
great events Of tie current year. The politial
Journals ot England, France and Germany are
under tie direction OF men OF commanding talcn,
extensive learning, and most ultimate knowlede
ofthe feelings desires. ard necessitios ol he peopE,
and the tendencies Of the age. The columns f
these papers are filed with the opinions OF the mos
enlightened and influential men of their respective
cotntrles, stated III correct and highly refined
polished languaye and advocated with elaborate
argument and the most cogent reasoning. There
is, therefore, room Tor surprise at their extensive
effects. There is, however, another side Of the
question. Each paper has It's own views upon
every subject moral, social, and political II is
ned to the interests Of party, and pledged 10 sup
port ard advocate that party opinions. ach paper
is also read by those who take it up every day,
under the Influence oi party predictions, and with
minds prepared 10 lmbibe Its teachings, and 10
adopt, without too rigorous examinations lis state
tons are ir general, cou"had more in the tone and
temper OF an advocate than of witness, and are re-
ce!yed too generally into the and minds Of par
tisans and not attended TO and judged OF by Impair
tial and unpreiudiced readers. Need we wonder
then that much error is propagated, and many sup
porters found Of extreme opinions, Independent of
this social action, and extending Into region of
much higher interests and results newspapers have
a most important influence upon the affairs Of na-
~ A. IL
away from the National Assembly n PAKIs, and
the Diets or Chambers at FRANNFoRr, VIENNA, and
BERLIN, the military chieftains, and the next most
prominent ,aen will be found to he the journalists,
those who have rendered themselves the chosen
oractes of political party by their advocacy of
particular opinions in the columns OF The newspa-
pers-nen when the press has raised into power,
and who, through the teachings the press, still retain
It's possession. This is not vet so much The case
in England, and ENGLISH journalists have COM
planned n their being made an exception to what,
on the Coatlnent. appears 70 have been almost
general rule. There is methi9g anomalous, how
ever, II not absolutely contradictory, in the present
position of the press and those connected with it, in
FRANCE, at least in PARIS. There, whilst the Re-
pubic has been established upon the ruins OF the
monarchy. and the people have obtained the greater
portion OF liberties and powers, which the dem0cra-
TIC form Oi Government conlers, tue press has been
absolutely placed under an interdict and its ablest
supporters subjected 10 more stringent regulations
ii!aa LoUIs PHtLIPPE, in the penitude of his power
would have dared 10 propose or counlenance. The
question then naturally occurs, the press and
the republic anagonistc! If they be not, then the
present Government does rot represent the RePub-
lie, since mat Government and tie press are de-
cidedlv opposed, or tile Government would not
place the press under 50 rigid an interdict. If
bn
and Ile people friendly TO it, then TIE Government need
the press since the people ne; dis
posed suppor If The press and the people the
side, how is it that Governneut which enanaes from
,he people should thus ha found opposed TO their ally ad ad
voca,e W. will ast"aft these questions,
ID ak thc ia any spirit Of unkndness to the Govern
raent ta people, the journals oil France, but from desire
10 understand he peculiar position of each.
We kaow but little concerning the GERMAN press except
ing that many oi talented OF the country
.oEnsolet with it, and that these general may be
found the existing legislative assemblies having been
there y tAe people tae representatives. We know fur
.hef that these representatives. found both in BERLIN and
FnASxroRr, (wecanno speak frthp AUSTRIAN Diet among
the advocates Of extreme opinions, aud the supporters of ua
democratic political institutions Whether the GERMAN
press before the age, and The people behind whether
be aer rdbeter be before behind he age,
aone these questions.
so llr respects ESGLANp, think may to
say that tie opinion Italy, Germany, and the countries
Of northern EuraPc, nag, o France the BRTsH press
with bright exceptions is bsiad hc people, and also
behad Tie cgt. IN spain and Italy Government has
shown literal tendencies, aud upheld the Of freedom
and humsny and neither Germany nor IN rance can il
be accused o! having given It's support oera principles
The English Government is not going arm under the
influence any u.xotc feeling defence either Roy atty
epuJieanism the dag Tor suc interference with the
Governments of other countries is past. English Ministers
have learned the policy, through the teachings OF the people,
% snnp, Of feeling indifference towards the proceed
iugs u other countries" in what does not immediately
their bu, lA apparent ukewamness and
be mconsruad y neghhor coldness and dese
ton. PopIa liberty helpless infant that requires
prpetdai ondng and watching The example Of the United
States has proved and hope that France, either
pabc limited aud popular monarchy, will PROVE that
j. properly understood by those who have adopted it, and
that j. robust and strong, and propers fully
when abandoned efforts and fortunes It no; the
passveHess of the English Government it is the
energetic coray ae part o the English people, that has
tel any cafge iou the Continent, Of sympathy
the English nation with hs aairs If continental Europe
but Is the language of portion, and sorry to say
tie most Influential portion Of the British pes which ha