The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1849-07-18

Louis Napoleon nave introduced a law restricting
lhe freedom Of the press and providing for the sup
preston Of those journals which attack the consti-
ulon make appeals 10 the soldiers Of the repub-
iic Such measure must, Of course, lead to
insufrectiona and outbreaks. Force will be repeed
with forces and the government that attempts to
keep down the mind Of the nation with the strong
arm Of power. viii inevitably bring on itself the
blows oEan indignant and outraged people Louis
Napoleon and his friends are determined to destroy
themselves. Mere smattefers in the history IF the
last sixty years, superficial study Of events has
made fools Of them.
We believe we speak the truth when we say that
without printing democratic government would be
q pTetence and liberty a dream. Fol what is
liberty but the free use Of all man faeulties-of
hiamind and will as well as Of his body! And
how give a man mind and win when he has them
not except by infusing into him the spirit and the
knowledge which move another and more self
acting mind BUTT is BY the press that one mind
i able to communicate with large number Of
minds; that the soul Of one man poured into the
minds ofthousands and tens Of thousands By the
press mind is equalzed and the expansive wisdom
and impetaous viii Of single gifted individual
become the properly and endowment the millions
Of the race.
All the oppression and tyranny that have been
practised in the world have been the result Of mind
being concentrated ia the few instead Of being diff
fused through the mass. Men Of powerful intel
ecs, selfish in their ends and INSCRIPTIONS in their
means, have been able to organize society in such
a way as to keep down those less advantageously
placed than themselves by the restraints Of physical
force Bntgive the mass ofsocety the power Of see
ing consentaneousy that they are kept in subsection
by force which it only requires win to overcome,
and that instant YOU take power, political, social
and physical, from the hands Of the few and give it
into the possession Of the many Iii in the organi-
cation Of public opinion that free press is omnipo
tent. Letting every man know what his neighbor
thinks and feels, it produces the confidence which
leads 70 concert and unity Of action And it is
printing alone which can produce such results over
large mass Of men: for il is the only agent with
which we are acquainted that gives sufficient
omnpresenee to thought or an idea. In the lapse
Of a few days or few hours, the same thought or
sentiment may, by the aid ofihe press pass through
the minds Of millions Of men; and if the idea BE-
appropriated by ALL or the most Of them, it becomes
irresistible.
How then can government pretend to be a. demo-
cratic republic, when il chains up the only inau-
ence which is capable Of upholding and maintain
ing democracy How can it pretend to be liberal
wheni il letters the most precious part Of maT-his
mind and restraints him in the dearest privilege Of
existence--the free communication Of his thoughts
and feelings to his ielIow-laborers and fellow.
sufferers in the great cause of humanity! Ii is
only those who seek to advance individual interests
and strive for personal aggrandizement, that seek
TO diminish Or destroy the influence Of the press.
These seek either to degraded characeror conine
the freedom ofthe press because the press great
instrument which Is destined to take ali political
power from the hands Of individuals, and make
principles and ideas the sole governors and rulers
Of the nations Of the earth, As the press increases
is Influence government is weakened inasmuch
aa government becomes comparatively unnecessary
4 i not strange, therefore, that ministry like that
Of Louis Napoleon, DESTROYS Of exsndingsits powers
and Of increasing M pFerogatiyes, should undertake
a crusade against the most dangerous rival it
can have.
Woe 70 the government which finds ii necessary
to curb the mind Of nation in order to retain
power Il must sooner or later perish. Ii may read
ts sentence in every free and open face that passes
i may conjecture its destiny from the effort which
men make to restrain their feelings and mask their
opinions. Louis Napoleon, like most men, has
been made drunk by hissudden elevations and the
success which ought to have made him grateful to
the Frenchpeople and attentive to their Wishes has
only made him vain Of his authority and DESTROYS
Of augmentfng his power. He may, however,
Inadvertently aid the efforts of the true republicans
Of France, and bring about the very state of affairs
against which he seems to be struggling.