The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1874-12-20
STORMY scEHEs IN TIE GERMAN arrcusrAe.
THE JMPRIsoNMENT OF DEMOCRATIC mr,r-
BEERS DENoUNCED.
Plain Talk from IiesAneon., windsAor.. ana r.,,,,.

"Soon only those who have been shut nm
in prison will be deemed admissible into
society" at is extremely possible that
great portion of this Assembly will soon
have to march to jail" These are some Of
the expressions uttered in the Parliament
day before yeste day, in the course of a
debate upon the motion of Deputy Lieb-
knecht for II release of those members Of
the House who are now in prison for "poli-
tical Offences" that is, for daring to op-
pose Prince Bismarck's policy. The whols
of the debate was remarkable. Those who
took part in it on the side of freedom ay-
owed that they spoke at their own personal
peril; they did not know at what moment
they might be sent to keep company with
their imprisoned colleagues. whose cause
they were pleading. This is the blessed
liberty with which Bismarck has made Us
free Three of the members of the House
are now incarcerated-Bebel, Hasenclever,
and Most. They are all members Of the
Democratic party, and their alleged crime
is 'an abuse of the freedom of speech"
Herr Liebknecht commenced the debate by
reading the portions of the speeches of his
colleagues for which they had been con-
demned. He avowed, with boldness, that
be agreed with these utterances. Bebel
was in prison because he had said that
Germany has now achieved the unity of
the barracks and of the prison." This was
perfectly true, said Leibknecht "Its
truth is best known to one like myself, who
has often been immured in prison, and
who, when he came out, did not feel like
one at liberty, but only like one who had
exchanged small prison for large one.
The whole of Germany, in fact, is only
one great prison, with little prisons iu-
side of it," Herr Most had been impEis-
ed because he described who were, in his
opinion, "the enemies Of the realm )" and
Mr.. Disraeli, Notwithstanding the apology
he had made, was quite correct in saying
l IL l:zI. c-1
the German noble. When Herr Most was
received at the Berlin Honse of Correction
the jailer said to him You are worse than
a burglar, more wicked than thief"
F, His treatment IN prison is infamous and
barbarous he is deprived of books and
papers, and compelled to work at the manu-
facture of pocket books-treatment all the
| bids the employment of political prisoners
at mechanical tasks.
Herr Windthorst, the leader of the Cath
| Ole party in the House, was the next
speaker. With the opinions of the i'm
| prisoned Deputies, he said, he had no
| sympathy but the Government was max
| lug a fatal mistake in encouraging the idea
that it was afraid to allow them to sit in
their places in Parliament,
"Since 1867" said he, "the administra-
ton of our criminal justice has undergone
30 extensive o development that soon only
those who have been shut up in prison Wan
be deemed admissible into society. The
number of persona imprisoned has increased
to an incredible extent. will not mention
the unfortunate Hanoverians who were
dragged off to Minden for strewing white
yellow Sand, nor will recall the memory
of those who were hauled away to LotzeDj
whore the estimable Eschholz got bis death;
but I disapprove the method adopted Of
present of attacking the eocial democratic
associations, and call attention to the fact
that even German Ambassadors are no
longer spared. should not have mentioned
this, bad / not wished to stimulate the
gentlemen from amongst when such dig
Ditaries ara generally selected to inquire
into the matter" "'rhe regions supplying
prisorers to our jails have been lately SO
vastly widened that find it quite easy OF
comprehension that Disraeli's latest utter
ances should awaken grave reflections in
every German breast Even though the
Times has impaired another meaning to his
words, find that, without even knowing
u.s. he has admirably described our circum-
stances. Now that the prisoner furnish
ing regions have attained such dimensionS
it is extremely possible that a great portion
of this Assembly will have to march to
Jail sit is even doubtful whether the National
Liberals are SAFE" 81 consider
that the treatment to which Deputy Most
has been exposed during bis incarceration
is simply horrifying. 1t does not, to my
mind, harmonic with the spirit of the
criminal code and if it do, then our most
urgent business must be to alter that code"
Prince Bismarck all this while had sat
silent, his arms folded on his breast, and
his head bent down,rHe now =arose and
replied with bitterness. "It is true" he
exclaimed, "that the prisons are full OF
discontinued people; but that only proves
, not that the Government is oppressive, bat
> that disregard for laws has increased
What is the reason for this 1t is the love
of criticism" lit seems that the Chancellor
imagines that to criticise him or his laws 10
crime y "to the example of those in high
stations who exhibit contempt for the
laws, and to the principles inculcated tor
the last twenty five years to our: youth by
their teachers" This last statement was
received with n urmurs for if there Do
ything on which the German prides him
= self it is upon the excellence of his schools
: Herr Lasker came next, with a speech
q which rather audered from the man
n Question, inasmuch as it was mainly deTotr