New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-03
Sltn 0rltans 9ailp Crssteut.
WEDNESDAY, MoRNING. NoYEMBER 5. 1sss
The press ii Prussia


struggle Of old standing, between the Berlin
police and the press has recently terminated in favor
Of the latter. The domineering Representatives Of
the despotie principle have been oyerthrown by the
power Of The pen and the printing press. For eight
years, The police lorded 1t over the Berlin journals
and their rule was bitter ana yindctiye The Prus-
sian law gave the police the right of contiscatng
single numbers Of journals under pretence of an in
tention 70 Gle prosecution and thislegal authorize
zion they used Id the most arbitrary manner A Der
lin correspondent says
They had made practice of coniscating newspa-
pers for articles which did not even give the slightest
pretext for Cling prosecution for libel or treason,
OF the like, against the editor; and this was done
merely because the police authorities who mistook
their oWn political opinions for those Of the common
veal did not like the political bias of certain articles.
They could do so because the law gave them that
power; but they did likewise what they not en-
titled 20 by law they refused to return the eonfs-
Gated edition, after the tWenty.four hours allowed
them for instituting the prosecution had elapsed q
The very absurd confscations, in which the police
delighted during the regency discussion have at last
nade On Opportunity for the press to appeal to the
highest legal authorities and the Attorney Genera,
70 whose department the whole business of prosecu"
lions for journalistic offenses belongs, has now, in
language not very flattering to the police officials,
publicly developed, in an official letter addressed to
khe eultor OF the National Gazette, what eonstruC
ton he himself puts on the law, This practically
puts an end TO all further abuse OF the power of con-
hseation. II will not, however, prevent further
movement, probably during the elections for total
reform Of the law of the press, which sprung into
existence in the midst of the acrimonious struggle
between the dying revolution and the rising reaction
10 1890 and which fully bears the stamp Of that time
The restriction upon the freedom of the press in
the various countries Of Europe is the strongest ar
gument against their form Of goyernment-the best
evidence that there is something wrong at the bot
tom, and that the different governments are not as
firmly imbedded in the affections Of the people as
they ought to be. England has the strongest govern
ment in Europe, and were the old isle assailed from
without, the people, asSe, would rush to its sup
port Yet the press there is free in the United
States, and the conduct and policy of the admins
tration Of the Government as boldly commented upon
criticised or denounced, as the case may be. The
freedom OF the press is one Of the greatest elements
Of British strength and is of the proudest monu
ments Of British wisdom The statesmen who rule
that country, rule SO wisely and we'll as general
thing that they are not afraid of the influence Of the
press long as they in the right for alpervading
as is the power Of the press the intelligence Of the
various constituencies enables them to detect when
the Press is wrong the Government right and to act
accordingly.
The greatest reproach under which the French
Government labors is in our opinion, the censorship
Of the press. So wise, energetic, powerful and popu-
Lar ruler as Louis Napoleon should remove the
saackles imposed upon the press Of France In less
than ten years be has done more for that beautiful
and glorious land than whole generations Of Bourbons.
He has accomplished enough to perpetnate his name
and fame to succeeding generations; and should he
die now, his works will live after him, and the i'm
partial historian will award him lofty place on those
pages that record great achievements, and transmit
them 70 posteriy. Therefore, let him rid the press
Of The burthens imposed uponit