The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1848-04-16
NEW YORK SUNDAY MORNING, APRIL 1e 1s4s

declares that 'slibery Of the press is allowed 10
the form under which it exists IN those countries
which have hitherto enjoyed it," In Bohemia
and othsr Kingdoms, proclamations to the same
fret have been issued; in Saxony a similar one
has been decided on. In fact, as we have already
said, wherever The great liberal movement has
manifested Itself, there the freedom of the
press has been almost Immediately secur-
I'd This fact IS, 10 our thinking, suth
Gent evidence OF the spirit which has inspired
and swayed the present European revolution
the portentous but pacific revolution of 1913 1t
10 an evidence that the people are not only rs-
solved on obtaining their rights, but that they
have learned to appreciate what their rights
really are: They no longer endeavor to prove
and exercise their power by resorting TO vio-
'ence and bloodshed, neither are they covetous
OF The empty pigeantry and pride attending our
own immediate interference IN State affairs
They have happily learned the folly Of such de-
sircs by the harsh teachings of experience. Now
crown wiser, they only seek to Obtain less I'M
posing, but NOT less important benehis. They
demand, aud with an earnestness which admits
of no refusal, concession of their just privl-
leges aud prerogatives-a free constitution and
liberal form OF government; but more espe-'
cltlly they demand that privilege which ensures
the possession OF all the rest--the privilege OF
being honestly repress nted by press unfettered
by any censorship. Were we inclined 10 doubt
the efficacy and excellence of such mode OF
representing popular opinion. our d0uots would
DE- eddy diss,pated on Witnessing the eager
ness with which every nation awakening to
consciousness Of Its nationality has insisted upon
obtaining II, and those doubts would be further.
more dspelled on remarking how resolutrly and
obstieateiy every despotic and unjust govern
ment has hitherto refused such concession.
1t is natural that such a government should so
refuse for such a concession would be the sigma
lure of its own death-warrant, at least as de-
spotic and unjust government: And 1t Is equally
natural that every nation resolved to assert It's In
depend ence should insist upon obtaining that con-
cession, for the establishing the. freedom of the
~. l..
which it had hitherto groaned, and the magma
chatta of the liberty it desires to enjoy hereaf
ter But in the present day it is lot necessary to
dilate on the Importance OF free press; in this
country, at least, 1t has long been duty recog'
nizsd and universally acknowledge has be-
come essential to us as oar national existence.
II is now hardly possible to conceive the state
of society in England before newspapers exist
ed, or even duriug the long period in which
they remained in their infancy. HoD could so
ciety no,o erist ,oithout daily chronicle of the
worlds affairs? But, more especially, how could
political measures be equtably carried on-how
could the welfare of the community be promo
ted, and our national liberties secured-lf there
were no IN ans of exposing the wants and
wishes of the poor, and no means of keeping
check upon the doings of the powerful 1t is
hardly possible for us now to realize such sup
position. 1t is hardly possible for us now, in
turning over the pages Of Parliamentary intelli-
gence which fill the daily papers, to be able to
understand such a state of affairs as that OF
which Horace Walpo'e, if we mistake not, tells
rs, when notes of speeches in Parliament were
taken down IN secret, and published conside-
fable time afterwards Ia mutilaed form and
without the real names of the speakers. OF the
political morality of that period, when UNI
Horace waipoie furnishes US with a correct
specimen, when, In making comparison be-
tween his father, Sir Robert Walpole, and
Ministerial predecessor, he observes, Ii allusion
10 their practice of purchasing support, " that
- la in
corI aption, Sir Robert plunged up to the whole
elbow! But, rs We have already said, il is
wholly unnecessary now to demonstrate the vast
and lnestlmablc influence exercised by free
Dress. Our object Is rather to call attention to
the convincing proof of the liberal, the mode
rate. the practical nature Of the revolution in
Germany afforded by the simultaneous establish
nent OF liberty OF the press IN Vienna and Ber-
lin, and the greater part of the minor kingdoms
md States. 1t is in Germany, more especially,
above all other nations, that the press should be
Invested with peculiar power and privil eges.-
The poet Campbell, in his very earnest and ami
mated " Ode to the Germans in which he ina.
gines " the spirit OF Britannia" melting her Els
ter Alleniania, to burst the tyrant'S chan," de-
clares that
"Hallox'd thrics the band
or our kindred hearts shall be,
When your land shall bs ths land
OF the free-of the free"
more especially observes as additional incte-
rhent to the assertion Of Allemanian liberty
The presss magic letters
That blessing ys brought forth
D shold it liss IN letters,
On the soil that gave It birth!n
Happily, that indignant reproach is no longer
true. The land OF Gattemb1rg may now Justly
exult In Its most glorious lnvention--the press
free from the restrictions which have hitherto
tisgraced It, in Its own tatherland.
From the London News, March 24l
Austria and Prussia presented the aspect OF
two very different kinds of monarchy, each OF
oh I'D bus
proud and confident of the duration and security
Of its system the imperial and royal politicians
OF Germany pointing with sclf-complacent SUI
perlority, during these late years, to the embar
easements that beset Spanish, French, and even
English constitutional governments.
AS to the Austrian empire and regime, it was,
IN fact, one of the sixteenth century ; not very
unlike what the experience OF Charles V. might
nave founded-a tascicutus OF countries bouno
together by the slender cord Of having descend
ID by right OF inheritance to the house of Lor-
raine.. In those countries all the institutions oil
class freedom and Independence, invented by the
tsudal lights had boen destroyed, aud destroyed
transition to that fuller and equsbie OF free
lom Of which all partake But Aussria stopped this de-
Military power, held back the pendulum and che hsnd
., time for full three centuries Prince Msttsrnch was
Csrdnsl Grsnvelle, without tho red hat He had no
idea Ct government other than that of despotic
aead of fimly; and he governed It Hike q school,
~hsre tho fear of the rod vArisd snd relieved by the
amusement OF the holiday.
Whist Prince Mettsrrich thus upheld Intact and
cred his moster specimen Of tho wisdom of ancestors
she great rival OF Austria devecpe
derpoismo tllusrads. an enlightened desyoti,n ga
hering to and enssing in rs service all tn, talent
hat thu oos could devsope, and all the force that
great itary system could combine. In this system
the king Of Prussia had blind and devoted faith Other
nonsrchs have defended at they esteem their dignity
and hereditary rghs The hing Of Prussia, on the
,ontrary had learned to dread and TO consmn tbs
atituional sysem as worked in England and Ia Frances
and no deemed himself called upon found and to
serve system FAR more solid, and superior, In which
amidst all the sembsnce of !roe Institutions tbs royal
power should preserve the great initiative aud high Ia
ellectual iohuence These political views of the
march were strengthened by his ones whi;h
devout, and even fanatic Hs took high prcsty
view of the duties Of government and thought himself
issoned BY his hiogy ooo to provide religious teBcs
well az political wisdom for his subj sets
This brauuew cast iron ediAce Of Frederick William,
has been blown down by the esme popuisr hurricane
which leveed the OLD walls Of the burg Of Vienna An
'iquty has not preserved the prspsnse