The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1867-04-05
Oh A ARLESTONs.

s' CHARLESTON..5
III
FRIDAY MORNING, APRIL s. 1867.
PROGRESS OF LIBERTY IN FRANCE.
Latest advices from Paris bring the text of
theNnew laws on the press and public meetings.
It seems strange, and all but incomprehensi-
BILE, that these two privileges,-the right to soy
in public, or print for the public, whatever any
one may be inclined to,--which, from long
der the very foundation stones of civil liberty;
should be Ill but unknown in o country claim
ing to be q great democracy, where the SOW
| ereign was elected to his present lofty position
by the universal suffrage Of the people Yet
the minister, his Majesty's mouthpiece, says
the nation has steadily advanced to tsgreater
destinies ever since the accession of the EN-
peror NAPOLEON I'LL We must confess, atathis
point, however, that we have had our misgiv-
ings within the last few years, in regard to the
| great blessings of public meetings and free
press. There is, we verify believe, room for
serious doubt, whether we have not perhaps
=
| words, whether much harm has not resulted to
the country, and to our free institutions by the
| license Of the press It certainly has a,con-l
| slant tendency to keep the public in state of,
| agitation and excitement. The unrestrained
+ right Of holding public meetings and discus
sing everything ad Hbitun ssinterpellating" even
the. most established principles of the Consti--
tuition, has also, we believe, been productive Of
no little evil to the peace and well-being Of So
ciety in this country.
Still, by nature and by instinct, we are Dem
ocrats, and, notwithstanding the recognized .
danger of too much license to tongue and pen;
we must still believe that liberal institutions
are not compatible with a fettered' press or
muzzled tribune; and, accordingly, we find the
people of France restive and impatient Of this
abridgment of their liberties, The reason of
the present agitation Of these subjects in that
| country, is, as our readers doubtless remen=
Der the recent decree Of the Emperor, pro-
claiming large increase of privileges on these,
and other points. Laws have at length been
framed in accordance with this decree, and it
is because they still fall so very far short Of
what the people desire, and what they see
other nations around them enjoying, that the
opposition speakers and papers keep up the
cry Under the new. law any Frenehman may
start political newspaper, and set up q print
ing Office or booksellers shop without special
license; but in case he commits any of the nu-
merous offences, to which these dangerous pro-
fessions are exposed, he shall be punished af-
ter trial without Jury, however,-by judi
DIAL officer, and not, as heretofore. by an adj
ministrative officer. But when it is ascertain
ed that these judicial officers are not unfre-
quently ignorant magistrates, taking their cue
entirely from the wishes Of the Government,
(as we have recently seen in the case Of NJ. DE
GIRARD1s), this win not be deemed such a
great advantage over the ancien regime The
penalties are from 500 to 25,0e0 francs; sus-
pension of publication Of journal for from
two to, six months; suppression; and disfran-
chisement for period not to exceed FIVE years
This is the new and more liberal Legislation en-
the subject. Hill. ~ 5ss.i. 4 i.t'5@
Public meetings may now be held, provided
that neither politics nor religion are discussed.
The Greek digamma, the rings Of Saturn, and
perhaps also the interesting question whether
or not gregarines are found in chignons, these
are legitimate topics Not without conditions;
however : For it seems BY the new and naore
liberal law, it is still necessary that seven ci.i.
izens, one day beforehand, submit q statement
Of the place, day, opening hour, and object Of
meeting to the Prefcct, who will then grant
therequired permission. s. "A Government agent
must be present, who may dissolve the assem-,
bly, the moment when questions foreign to it's
declared object are introduced, or when it be-
comes .tumultuous. He must see that it ai-,
journs before the police hour, j. e. when all the
cqfes, etc.s must be closed, Nor must it BE held
in thesope air 8 Moreover the Prefect may
adjourn, and the Minister Of the Interior pro-
bibit any meeting which seems to him likely, to-
be troublesome: His "a Majesty, we thus per-
ceive, kindly furnishesi.a chairman to every
meeting to be held, who has the requisite au-
thority to sspreserve order" In order, to, q
proper discharge of his duties, this Govern 4
ment agent," who is to be always present;
should be q, consummate metaphy sician. How
nice some of the points he win have to decide
For instance tske q sitting Of some learned
society. How subtle the distinction between
physics and metaphysics! between morals and
religion, between q discussion on the history
~--N ~ Po1s' - a1o1eu. PeyPAes anu governments,
and the Inference in-the mind Of the t.agant,' :,
that when Rome Is seid France is .:cs.., ~
LIus CEsxH stands for LOUIS NApoLsoN, and
the Rubicon, translated into good Parssian,
reads coup detat. How the poor agents OBJ
tuse faculties must for ever be on the rack, sus-
pecting that the learned dons are making game
Of him. II is for his relief that Government
has given him the benefit Of his own fionhta I
Whenever he is unable to loosen the! Gordian
knot, the great Macedonian's expedient is ever
his command. When hel;is unable to meet
logic With logic be can always t.disperae them.n
The Emperor, moreoyer,S shows cohmenda-
bic thoughtfnlness in requiring all meetings. to-
be held within doors, being desirous TO preserve
every one Of his liege subjects 1--WE beg pardon,
iellow-o We meant from catohing the sn
Auenza. .7 ~ \ t d
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