The New York herald., 1871-11-25
THE PRESS IN GERMANY.
Prosecution Of an Editor for Plain Speak
ing About The Emperor.
The State ATTORNEY vs. The Frankfort Zcitung-
The King Of Prussia Duped in General Man
teuftel-Pismarck and Moltke Conspire to
Make the "Man.Devil" Harmless in
France-An Editors Defence
The Emperor Il Not Infaliible.


year, win the exception OF tnat remarkably ridicu-
lous one made by the Prnssan Minister OF Cutus,
Won Muhler, ''tne Minster who mas missed his vO-
cati0n" was concluded here yesterday, the case
beng the Prussian government vs. Hermann Voget,
responsible editor Gor the time being) OF the Frank
fort Zettung, and enalng with decision for the lie.
PENDANT. The charge made against vOget was this:-
IN July OF the present year there appeared IN the
columns OF the Frankfort Zeitusg an article about
the
"QUEsrIoN OF DoTATIoNs TO THE PRUssIAN GEN.
ERALsn
IN which the acts OF General Manteu1e during
the late war were most severely criticised The bill
OF Indictment contains among other things fol-
lowing charges-The article In question not merely
critclses the merits Of General ManteuIie but the
person OF Ills Majesty the Emreror Is also drawn
into the circle OF discussion aad Judgment in
Way insulting to the latter's dignity. IL Is espe-
cially asserted that General ManteuIel possesses
the especial love of the monarch, not on account
Of his capacity and merit as general or as states
man, but on account or his character as courtng,
on account of knowledge OF delicate .rets OF the
Court, by parade OF his plety and his devotion 10
the HOhe. Zoilern dynasty.
THE ARTICLE
says that the King OF Prussia removed General
Vogel Won FakensteIn from his command In 1866
and General Stenmetz in 1870 only for the pur.
pOsc VI milking TOOm lot HIS lavorle, General
ManteuIel not on account OF any Ent.oa oil his
capabilities and merits, but from simple personal
inclination; consequently lie (ManteuneD was placed
unjusty at the head OF division OF the army, ami
then was placed the list or generals who should
receive dOtations IRON the nation 1t Is further as
serted that the King OF Prussia had allowed himself
to be "duped TO a certain degree" by Prince Bis
marck ana General Moltke. when he Jransposcl
General Manteufel from the command OF the army
in the north TO that Of the army In the southeast.
HOW MANrEUFFEL Is REGARDED
II Will be remembered that While General Werder
was busy about Beliort IN repenng The last efforts
or the French, Manteu1el was speeding across
France in order TO take possession Of the south
western army In order to replace Werder. He ar
rived 100 late, after Werder had aone ali the work.
The criticisms on Man:eufel, We may be sure, are
not altogether grOundless, especially some made
about the rough treatment Of his soldiers anu his
rude intercourse when in the enemy's country The
Frankfort people themselves had taste Of his mill.
tary rule Ill 1860, and In Germany the Generals
name (Man-teulfeD Is generally considered some-
what conclding with his character, especially In
times Of Wul-Man-ueyill
EDlTORs' rERpLExITIEs IN GERMANY.
The difficulties that newspaper editors in Ger
many have 10 overcome, or rather avoid, especially
they Qfted with the abinty 10 Judge, Crlticise
and award are extremely numerous, even In times
OF peace-a TACT proved by the many press processes
now coming up in Prussia Germany did nope tnat
after the war was over and victory hers that the prom
But IN s aer he peo
are wOefuly disappolnted-a lact not concealed by
the citizens here. Ii anything the condlon OF the
newspaper press, especially as regards the freedom
ol opinion, Is worse than IL was In 1869. scarcely
day passes even In the city OF Frankfort, without
newspaper cOnnscatl0n or portion Is 0rdered
to be replaced by the officlal police censor 1t
not unfrequenty happens that tue Frankfort Zet,ng
appears with It's editorial space blank, slnce the
censor has stricken It out al the lasI moment anu
there has not been time 10 Tx up other matter. In
fhfl olln
II Is very strange that now, In time or ..pr0lound
peace" q government supported Dy a million OF
GENERAL MANrsUFrEL's CASE.
General ManteufeI refused TO taSe any action
Infinitely too high to need to defend himseiI. In
snort article, however, he relnted few immaterial
points, but lett the great body Of tile cnarge
Iuea. but the government was determined not to
let such chance OF punishins an oDnoxious editor
Prussan government In politics democratic, he
Wled5 scatning and truthlui pen. As a war cor
respondent, lie mad The misfortune to come across
THE GRAND DUKE OF MECKLEaBUIo's
division; saw that royal commander recSlessy
send MS cavalry into DEATH AS though lie were upon
the parade ground ana IN letter home he let fall
a few words OF criticism as regards the capacity or
the Grand Duke, limiting That tne lives OF Germans
were more precious than To be spent recklessiy by
q man VINO was better fitted TO stay ar home III his
hule duchy tnan to take an acuye charge in the
field. one day NogeL was arrested ana transported
to Germany '.wth all possible speed" win the
mint never TO be seen IN France again rs long rs
the German army was there. VogeL cano home
and the editorial stan oi his paper crlllcsed tno
Grand Duke (after the war was over, 10 his hearps
content. The government dld not forget this insult
TO an officer; and tnat Manteunel had refused
10 take any notice Of the article the state Attorney
studied the article very earnestly, aid SO lie Is
able 10 charge V0get Win 'lnS lltng the person Of
Ills Majesty"
DIRE OFFENCE,
the Punishment OF wncn IS generally imprisonment
III q fortress. NogeL denied having written the
Gle in question: though, as editor, he would bear all
responsibility, refusing 10 tell the name OF the
writer, who he SAID, was a Prussiaa oicer OF high
standing. IL prouable that the latter furnished
the iacts-only voget himsei! could have written
that the Court should sentence the accused 10 Two
months imprlsonment or In view OF the tact tnat
yoget had never been sentenced Tor an offence
before, two months Imprisonment In fortress "a
sentence by which the honof ol the accused Is
savedl.
naturally created great interest In the Journalistic
word here. and inc court room was generally
been very scantly gwen by the Frankfort papers,
ana, what ~ very remarkable, Nogets speecn IN his
Berlin, a semioil!cai paper Tne intenton is evi.
dent to biing Vogers words TO the attention OF
Tue Ep,ro sa ster h .ne ea case s Of "ence
against HIS Majesty Will DC made OUT against
truths. lie proved to the Court that Ia the article
he had uttered the truth about General Man
teuiie but since he did not stand accused Tor what
he nad said about mat General ne woaid confne
himself 10 the question Of insulting the monarch.
Insult TO MS Males ssa egg & H 70 OF
err. But TO err Is human says an OLD German
proverD; and even princes are but men. ana though
they may be styled by the grace OF God no one
would consider tnem in this nineteenth century as
descendants OF The gods"
voGET s EXPLANATIONS.
In publishing the article he tNoget considered
that lie was DONG palriotlc duty. We read daily
how IN France every body Is preparing Tor new
war. The French do not merely curse the Germans
bu they are exerting themselves TO fill up the gaps
in lnelr own knowledge, and are disnsslng the IN
capaoie onicers. But IN germany we are rocking
ourselves in confidence; we Overestinate
our strength, and praise every general
as o hero. This system can become dangerous 10
us. As one most unworthy OF his lame appeared TO
linn, and 10 many Generals, General Manieune,
VINO Is only good Court man; L0uoiSe, who was
beaten Al kossbaoh, was also good Court man; the
same may be said vi LeDGu the Marshal OF mlsfor-
tune In 1870. We need in Germany neither q Lou. |
bise nor LebGuL The assertion that Manteunel
Is no general and no statesman could only Involve
an insult 70 the Emperor wlen the article said that
the Emperor had entrusted manteune with the |
high charge, knowing well the laiter's incapacity.