New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-10-05
THE LIBERTY Or THE PRESS.
From he M1nitegy Of Sept 70.

The French Minister Of tie Interior has just 3D.
dressed 70 the Protects tie following circulsr
"PARIs, Sept Is, 1889.
an. LIE PRrFE1: By & recent sct, Shica Tss H.
fpi.ed by noble seLti nent o! Cancellation, sill the
iounsls Of Paris ard of tle departments have been
relieved from the warnings with which they had been
ysitcd.
''In giving this example of bis good will 70 yard
the French press the Emperor has once mere proved
that the moderation OF his policy is eqGsl 70 the force
Of his authority; lis generous aud high prerogstlve
has effaced the rgoIs which had become necessary Ia
the Interest Of society.
eau the ournas 81 present in e1istecce, and which
had been affected by the application of Article 81 OK
the decree of the 18th of February lS12 thus escape
the col sequences Of the measures they had incdred
snd frd themselves in the face Of this cree il the
same position az if it were new lay.
1t seems to then TO be necessary to refer TO i,s
principles and 10 explain to you the spirit In which
conceive Of its application, go far az the duties deyoy-
ing on the administration are concerned.
1.-The decree Of the l1th Of February 1852, is not,
o. has too often been sad law for the occasion, born
of social crisis and which I'D not be suitable to or
binary times. Like ell other political laws, this one ia
DO doubt susceptible of smeloratous, the utility of
which might appear from experience; bat the pnnci-
pies upon which the decree of 1892 is founded nt-
mately connected with the restoration of authority in
France ard with the constitution Of the unity o! power
upon tie basis Of universal sufirsge.
The Emperor's Goverruer, s not afraid OF the fair
discussion Of ts sc,s il j, trOpg enough 10 fear no a.
tack Its basis is too wide, its policy too national,
take away aDythipg OF moral power Blu. If II is
piotec ed by its ilcoLesable force even against the
abuses of liberty, there ere considerations, Independent
CT any fear ana derived solely from The public Interest
that oblige it not TO TeDource those legal weapons
which in great county Ike France, and under
Tfcimc that is the most complete expression Of the
nation al Will, securities and rot restrictions.
tie right Of displaying ard publishing their opin-
iors which belongs 10 al FIenchnsn s a conquest Of
1889, which cannot be taken away from n people 50
enlightened that Of France; but tbs right must no;
be COMPOUNDED with the exeIciie of the h5eEy OF the
press by means Of periodical journals.
journals are collective agencies organized within
the Safe and they have urder every regime been
subjected TO special regulations The State mas then
its rights and It's duties to exceptional measures OF
preCauO aud surveillance for jon naS aud when 4
deserves to itself the power Of directly epressiog their
excesees by administrative nteTpcsOD, Il does not
reetrct liberty Of thought, bat only employs method
of protecting the interests of society. The employ
Of this method of prote cton Inch incontests6y
beoDgs 10 it, implies spIit OF great Jos'ics, mo isrs-
ton, and iirmness.
rsdiction over the press, cue measure II especially
Necessary; aud l oanno; dwell too much upon this
point. Because il is tie will and the cuty OF gov.
erruent not to let the principle Of liz authority be
weakened in its hands, II cannot therefore bTlug %
bear upon liberty of discussion any restrictions except
those which are enoined by respect for the consttn
tion and by the interests Of order public morality and
religion.
seryle appreciation Of its acs, always tolerate serious
contradictions; il will not allow the right Of revision
no, coniourdiDg il with systematic opposition end ct
ouating msievoenoe; The Goyernmen, asks 90 better
than to have its authority enlightened by discussion,
but il will never permit soCety 10 be troubled by guilty
indictments and hostile passions.
Finally, NJ. le Preiet, ! rely upon your entire zeal
TO discharge this part OF your functions. 10 the cooper
alton which you will have 10 give ne you will equally
syod on the enc hard that weakness which would
allow Of license and the other hand that exagger-
alton by which liberty would be restricted. In this
/
merit his appreciation Accept the assurance OF my
distinguished cor sderstl0n.
q" Tie Minister of tie Interior, DUKE OF PADuA.'
Tie Presse contains the following sharp remarks:
" Tie Monaeur hiss spoken there s TO be new
decree with respect to the press the legislation Of
1872 vii romaia &c / Is: the journals have sufficient
liberty 10 discuss the acts OF the Government and 20
Brighten public opioCn: those who require grea. er
liberty Of the press are TIE involuntary organs of
hostile parties, who cesTe 10 upset the Constitution
ard The fundeu entail laws Of tocial order. TINS i
what the A0HHcW addresses 10 the Journals. We
sha. not inquire whether much importance s rot
attributed 10 The press and 20 these hostile parties, in
suppOfrg that the hist could supply the second with
power which would enable them ~ aim such results.
II We were speaking on tehat OF the Government We
should not have represented It e. being s, the mercy
OF few strokes Of the PEN but this mission l. not
ours, and the N0GaeH- pe.i know, what It Gays, and
what il wishes 10 say Oay as the liberty Of discuss.
il the acts Of the Government has been recognized
an act, shall permit Ourselves 10 observe that
asked the Government 70 give free scope 10
lee csumries, ard errors Lies ana calnmnies are
Gin equitable by tue egal tribunals, aoi error
even when committed w3-hou. malice, i rnisteel
which has rot escaped the wacdfuatss OF the Lsgsa
tuie. We believe We have READ 81 tha, has bean
written this subject during te shCi, period Of hope
10 which the note the H0nieur has pu. emf, ani
could only perceive the ut'eranCe II dssifes which
were by means Incompatible with the Constitution
AID tie fundamental Laws 81 social order. Would the
Constitution and the ags q social order be endangered
if the journals he'd the common ri IA, Of labor aud Of
industry restored 20 them by the suppression Of the
preliminary sanction, sIi the common light q iuicis
tiia restored 10 them by the abolition Of warnings.
We do rot think aud avail ourselves Of The la :
ude which the M2z;'eur permits 70 say Go. /. woull
net be difficult 10 cemoustis,e this; bat l. il useless d
fierce, by any great display @: argument sssiu-t
fact; and the fact here is that the M3Gilrr l. lot Of
oar opinion. Thst decides the question. TIE Gins
tor therefore will remain whs, 1. IT, ari the journals
will be obliged 10 act accordingly. COlstiaiIi hangs
over them but the responsibiAty-ani are bJli 10
ssy, the chief ircoIyenience Of tie p!esea. system
sbilC= Hitu Othefs