New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-07-07
THE PRESS IN GERMANY.
A PROPOSED LAW SUBMITTED FOR ITS
CONTROL.
THE PRESENT SYSTEM IN PRUssIA-A STORM ~ DIS
APPROVAL.

ships Of the Press Of Prussia recent events have gwen
the subject such fresh importance that make no eh-
for returning to It. Under the old feudal regime
which ended let say ls4s the Press had no rights
which the Government bound TO respect Unu'
after sadowa there was an official censor whose blsl
ness was examine all publications before they were
Issued, and who possessed full power Of prohibition. II
ia needless to say that the Government always
selected for this post man whose orthodoxy was
IA hrrn as his will. After the war Of Lees
the Ministry, and notably Bismarck. felt Do
expedieDt to make some concession 70 the Journals
most OF which lad supported his plans heartily, much
more heartily perhaps than any other distinct element
in Prussia. Bat the wary Chancellor Nas not ready 10
make genuine reform and he would agree 10 nothing
further than the erasge OF the censor, white tho
functions OF the officer were transferred TO the police
The censor was abolished. but the censorship was re-
tanned. The journals also given opportunityfor
in the courts OF iustce-hat Is to say te poo
we're required 10 bring formal prosecution against
journal which they had exercised their power OF con-
iscation, and to give il opportunity 20 Wrcst from
Judge the tardy and absurd satisfaction o. decision
that the conhscaton unwaranted
1.-THE or ina seizure was an oppressl the remedy
was an insult exactly ia point has occurred Tho
GermdHid, the Utrahonaue daily Of this city, pun
shed one evening letter from the Pope to one OF tho
rcbeiOus Bishops. who are giving Prince Bismarck 50
much trouble The police bounced upon the nnlnchy
journal, and seized ut the presses the entire cdiilOh
No explanations necessary. and OF coeTse none
we're given But the evening. % hours later, the
familiar police wagon appeared at the publishers ofce
the conhscaed edition, which had been returned
The police had concluded 10 remove the nterlri"
the only explanation given. In ordinary crcnn-
stances journal which Is only "A hours Old IL considered
fresh in Germany; but in this case the following num-
Der already the press and the concatcd sheets
of course an utter loss
This is the systcmlf what Is purely arbitrary may be-
f.. .Hs.sa
sue to-day their unucby calling. II Is the Prnssian
system say and not the German system. Al present
there is no uniform press law aud since each state
makes its own regulations in the matter, the South
German States are far in advance Of their northern
neighDor. But when Is proposed to secure very lib
era reform under the present system, the Prussans
always look, If possible, 10 the Imperial PsrIa-
ment. The Beichstag IL very liberal; aud
in this method OF procedure there is gained
Tor any measure the advantage that 81 dOr5
not have to the Prussan Upper Chamber For Two
years q lively agitation chiefly fomented by Prussi1h
Liberals had kept the subject fresh in the parliament
AIRY mind and this session. at an early day committee
Of the Reichsag took the subject in hano. very -
eral bill was presented and met with general favor.
Suddenly day the project was about 10 Dee pul "n
lis course in the regular way, Prince Bismarck arose
and stating that the Prussan delegates were about 10
submit a scheme to the Bundesrath asked
that the pending bill be postponed. The
House, OF course, assented. Two weeks
elapsed, and when Prince BismarcAs REFORM
appeared found to be very much like The reform
Of 1867 il was 10 reform 1t does not abolish the obnoX
ious police censorship II does not do away with tho
arbrrary principle of punishment before trial II mod
fes somewhat the specific causes for which Journal
may DE regularly adindged by the courts. bui % reuin
il establishes general prescription Of the widest aud
loosest kind. Journal may be punished for anything
which in the opinion OF judge, threatens the rVbI OK
ifnrfnu NJ no I'm he mi
system &c. The clause is purposcly left indefinite, aud
a complaisant Judge may easily stretch il Ia cover no
most innocent political criticism in the press
Thus does Prince Bismarck enlarge the liberty 81 tho
press in Germany. His conduct will create
prise in America. The fact is that Bismarks socaec
liberalism is purely result OF circumstances II is
strictly consistent with itself, because IL rests
scientious principles, but it Is weak strong according
10 the necessities OF the II is probable lint BIS
marck cares no for the freedom OF tine press
principle than he cares for the independence 81
the Church But be does 10 have not On the Church
but the press not ouy the Church and the prrss bu5
every distinct corps IN position where he can control
IT, He doubtless has desire TO disturb t1e Journals
by purely vexstlous prosecutions, ana he certainly
has little sympathy with the foolish anil
then taken against the Catholic sheets. But be WI sub
NIT no 10 reform which aboshes the substance ~ tha
power OF the Government over the press that prDepio
once understood his Conservatism OF to-day becomes as
ineligible as his Liberalism OF yesterday heich heS
the danger Of iudiscrimnate approval Of The Cham
celor's policy against the Church 1t s a twO-edged
sword, and those Liberals who are delighted to &c
hewing down the barriers Of superstition which surround
Catholicism will shudder 1t turned against other
privileges for which they have the greatest yeneaen.
Everything must submit 10 the will OF state " this -
the rule OF action which seems TO govern The reform
Of the German Chancellor His present work
may be compared to that OF the coach
man who mounts his box behind siN-in-baRd. IiO
finds the rens lying loose here and there. and
knows that they must De gathered up before he can
guide his steeds. Just Bismarck is gathering W
the rens in order TO control the coach ~ State. A.
coachman he feels no hostility toward the beasts IN
trusted him. aud is determined only that they shall
obey. And, 70 pursue the parallel step further, the
good conduct of any particular member o. the team Will
secure it only immunity from punishmeni-not fcom
seryitude aud obedience. The Church is horse in
the Bisms rex turnout nobese il another the amy
is another the press is another etc, and IN" skill
with which he manages to make all these interests bow
to his will is the highest proof OF his power aud sill
As yet, however, the Press law is onlS project.
IL has been submitted 10 the Bundesrath. bn has not
received the assent OF that council; while that
body adopts it, the hardest task will be with the
Liberal Reichstag. The press Is outspoken aud unan
IN condemnation OF the measure. There ~ indeed
such storm raging the subject that Bismarck HIM
self seems 10 be- little dlsmayed for he recently pro
tested i'm the Reichstag against the supposou .hat tho
measir. was his individual work Some Of the thance
lor's organs are trying throw the blame on Count
Gutenberg the Minister OF the Interior The- are fool.
ish subteruges; and they significant only hocause
they show that the ministry AFTER all ashamed OF IA
work. aud Is unwilling to offend too yOleut, , collect
i've press OF Germany.
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