The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1856-1888, 1868-03-07
Free speech.

free Speecn."
The last issue of the official Gazette contains
an extract from some foreign paper relating to
the recent contest of the liberal party in Prussia
with the Government on the right of free speech.
The Prussian Government arrested and incarccr-
ated two members of the Prussian Chambers for
what was called REASONABLE language. The
Chambers took issue with Government on the
question, and an exciting debate continued.
Count Bismarck for 4 long time declined TO take
part in the debate, but ut last came out boldly
and m~anfully on the side of the people and :. pro-
posed that the Deputies should BE declared free 10
say trAat they liked, but that the reports [of par
liamentary prooeedingsl in the public papers
should be subject to the operation of the ordinary
press laws. 80 far as he knew, this was the
practice in England" We honor the noble
statesman, who has the holiness 10 stand up and
thus declare his views in opposition to those of
the party which sought to crush = free Speech
But why does not the official organ tell the
sequel of the debate on this great question, which
has been watched with interest by all Europe?
Why does it not tell its readers that on the Sth of
january the telegraph reports that the Deputies
had defeated the bill brought in to restrain free
speech. by a majority of over fifty. Its omission
TO give the whole story looks like an attempt TO give
n wrong version Of the affair. AS, however, il has
taken the liberty TO refer To Prussia, we will quote
here the memorial of Friedrich Cent?. which was
presented to His Majesty Frederick William III. of
Prussia on his accession 20 the throne, and which
probably did much To establish the right of free
speech and the liberty of the press which now
exist in that country, which may well be taken
Us u model for us:
"Of all things repugnant 70 letters, none can bear
them as little as human thought The oppression
weighing down the latter is not merely injurious
because IL impeies what is good, but also because IL
promotes what is bad. Compulsion in matters of
faith may be passed over in silence. 1t belongs TO
those antiquatei evils on which now that there Is
greater danger Of an utter prOstration of religious
ideas than Of their fanatical abuse, only narrow
minded babblers are declaiming. Not 50, however,
with regard to freedom of the press. Misled by un-
founded apprehensiOns, arising from the events Of
the times, even spacious men might favor a system
which, viewed in its true light, Is more injurious 10
the interests Of the government than IL ever can De TO
the rights Of the citizens, even in its most deplorable
abuses
What, even aside from all other considerations,
peremptorily and absolutely condemns any law muz-
cling the press, Is the important fact that il is impos-
sible 10 enforce it. Unless there be a regular inqui-
s!tion watching over the execution of such q law, il
Is nowadays utterly impossible TO carry it out. The
facilities for bringing ideas before the public are 50
great, as 20 render sny measure destined to curtail
this publicity q mere matter of derision. But If these
laws prove ineiectual they may yet exasperate the
people, and that Is precisely their most dangerous
feature; they exasperate without lettering. They
ins;igate those against whom they are directed TO
offer n resistance which frequently not only remains
successful, but moreover becomes glorious and hon.
orable. The most wretchei productions, whose real
value would not secure a life Of two hours, obtain
general circulation because it seems to have required
some degree of courage to write them. The most
insignificant scribblers Will be looked upon as men of
mind. and the most yenal writers suddenly become
martyrs of truth 4 thousand nOxiOus insects,
whom q sunbeam of truth and real sagacty would
have dispersed, favored by the darkness created for
them with depiorable short-sightedneSs, insinuate
themselves into the unarmed minds of the people,
and instl their poison to the last drop, as though it
were & forbidden delieacy Of the most exquisite
character. The only antidote, the productions Of
better writers, loses Is strength hsSauso tho min
formed only too easily mistake the advocates Of salu-
tary restrictions for the defenders of such as are
manifestly unjust and oppressive
Let freedom Of the press, therefore, be the i'm
movable principle Of your government, not as though
the state or mankind, in this age 80 prolific III books,
were interested in the publication of a thousand
works more or less, but because your majesty is too
great 20 maintain an unsuccessful, and therefore
disastrous struggle, with petty adversaries. Every
one should be held responsible, strictly responsible
for unlawful acts and writings assuming such a
character, but mere opinion should meet with no
other adversary than its opposite, and If 1t be erro-
neous, with the truth. Never will such q system
prove dangerous to a well-regulated state, and never
became pernicious. destruction had preceded it al
ready, and modification and putrefaction had set