, 1874-06-21

hinlsalf tho intellect OF Frsace,-that part Of il
at least. which manifested itself by -he pen. Tn
strongest antagonist u the Bonapartists to-da
is the spirit OF the intelligent men and women q
the literary class. Nor is this due entirely to th
memories of the First Empire. Louis Napo1eo
repeated, with less excuse the mistake Of III
uncle. The Revolution Of 1880 had turned upo
! this point moro than any other. That Of 1sA
had shown tho Immense power Of the new in
huence. To tho press Of this period, tho ven
which it gave to passion and fanaticiam, the op
portunt1es It afforded Of mutual recognition ant
understanding among the people, an intellgen
Partisan ascribes the freedom Of this revolutio,
from the excuses which dissraced that Of 1893
But nevsr was the French press subjected to
System more absolute,
OF MORE E1AsPERAT1So N IT'S DETAILS,
than under tile Second Empire Whoever
wished to start a newspaper Was required to flt
at the Bureau Of the Press notice Of his inten-
ton, with statement Of the ecope and charac
ter OF the proposed journal, and OF the doc
trines to be advo:atea,-a sort of political
confession Of faith on the part Of the
editor. II the Governmont was satisfied with
the prospectus offered, it granted what WI.
called the preliminary authorization, permitting
its appearance. The publisher was then required
to deposit with the proper official q certain sum,
amounting sometimes to large proportion OF
his capita1,-as bail or bond for tie good bo-
hayior Of the new sheet. II the journal thus
ushered into existence should be so devoid Of q
sense OF prop1iety as to at1ack any prominent
measure Of the Administration, the latter could
summon tho offending journalist before jury,
on charge Of disseminating Ideas tending to
rupture shs peace Of society. The question WAS
then simple one: We're or we're no: tho arti-
cles in question Of nature to throw diHcredit on
people,? In most cases thero could be but one
answer to this, aud the Government Unidentified
itself by heavy fine, for whose satisfaction the
means were already in its hands. Every news
paper paid also regular tax, levied upon each
number, thus indicating the extent Of its clrcu-
l.tion. II the accounts Of leading Journal
lists may be credited, the old feat OF
WALKING DL1SDFoLD OVER BURNING PLoW-
euAREs
ras simple compared to the po1plcxit1as Of an
editor or publisher under tbs Empire.
Every article must be carfully scruti-
nized by tho writer, chief editor, and
proprietor, in turn, to be certain that it con-
tained nothing likely to peril the sheet in
which it was TO appear. II, in spite Of this
minute Inspection, i. happened to contain some
expression or statement wounding the euscepti-
billties OF the Government, OF any one OF its
myriad representatives, there arrived at the Of
fee parsonage bearing what was called a
Communication" directly from the Govern
ment itself, correcting or answering the errin8
article. This the journal Was obliged to print
at the head OF it's next 1ssue. When tho
fault was Of = more fragrant nature, there
came q more formidable messenger,
little man in black, bearing what was
termed q 'fWa1ning." The journal, at this
stage OF affairs, was in the state Of man Who
has received two strokes Of paralysis. II it did
not turn shortly about and mend its ways,
presto there came the third stroke called "the
Suspension y; and, for time at least.
THAT JOURNAL WAS SO MORE.
From this system arose. among the parisian
writer's for the press, habits OF thought and ac-
tion which change Of dynasty could not readily
eradicate; whose i'll effects tho most perfect
Government to which France shall ever attain is
likely to experience for somo tins after it's es-
In 1869 the Paris press numbered seventeen
political newspapers,-six morning and eleven
evening papers. The excess of evening over
morning journals was natural result Of the
habits OF tho Capital In q city wlera the pop
ular breakfast-hour is - o'clock. rhare the Leg
slatiye Bodies begin their sittings at 2 p. m,
and the great tide of public business is not fair
y at it's flood till after noon. papers appearing
between and S Of tie afternoon are likely to |
meet with larger sale than those appearing in |
he early morning. At first sight these seven |
cen journals seemed to represent az many va
aot4oe " 9oA@1Ga1 Oo4AeA VI po'to4t put IL 'QlQ
lot take long to learn to classify them-not |
solcly by perusal, but also By the testimony of
popular oomment-as Official, Legitimist, Ro- !
nan Catholic, and Liberal.
or the official journals,
THE noS1rEuR,
II course, led the van. It alone was privileged
@ say. Is am the Government" Its tone was
Il the highest degree dignifed, imposing, and
nonotonous. You had only to look into its col
lmns to find that tho Emperor was model SOW
reign, with truly paternnl so]icitude for the |
eelfare OF his subjects that, at the elections
ast week in the Department Of Seiue-et- Disc,
large; that. at The reyisw Yesterday.
he Emperor's appearance Was greeted with
'reat enthusiasm. In short, WAS there ever a
lappier country, q finer army, more
lnited people, until suddenly, on that unlucky
lay at Sedan, somebody asked for the