New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-06-19
,JOVRNdLISM IN GERMANY.

ITS INSPIRED cH.RAcrER-ErFEcr OF THE SYSTEM
ON THE REPUTATION OF FOREIGN JOURNALS IN
GERMANY.
(FRoM THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE ]
BERLIN, May 27-"Germany possesses as
legacy from its political apprenticeship mOestly OBJ
serves the National Zeihag, "and also fundamental
element beiug the habit OF treating the affairs OF
other countries earnestly and thoroughly We coudeasiy
call out half dozen scholars and politicians who would
hold their own with English statesmen and Jurlsts
i'm a discussion of English affairs" Then follows
n complaint that the English press and the English
correspondents misreprcscnt the Germans. German
papers are regularly taken in editorial offices OF Lon
don papers English correspondents only required to
furnish marvellous stories, and every day furnishes some
thing new in that direction This ignorance OF the En-
gsh press il is sad makes II an easy prey O lntrlgcrs
and other bad PERSONS such as are found abroad and
this brings the deporabe state Of serylity and de-
moralization in which 1t Is known to be- II would seem
TO be the cOmmOnest thing for Count Best to make
catspaw Of English journals. In the very article from
which have quoted there Is reproduced Paris letter
from The Observer which openly charged to the ach
nations Of the Austrian ambassador at London.
allude TO this article because it affords such an ad
rabe illustration of the peculiar opinions OF journalism
entertained by persons In Germany. The Idea OF
great and thoroughly newspaper, which
il strong enough not only to stand abuse but also to
know cannot afford to be suspected Is contrary To
German experience. Here all the political papers stand
near, somebody something man or ministry And
this proximity is more than mere moral one, whicrhas
for object only an exchange and communication OF views
between journalists and politicians OF similar tendencies
II Is rather an active material and often pecunary sup
mort The paper does not claim private conscience OF
its own Ii is organ, and what II prints Is actually
and in every approved by some power In the rear
IL be an Ulramonanc sheet puts itself every day IN
communication with the leaders Of the Center" or
thn dafan tn1 IN
Center" Fit be Cover nment organ Its representa-
rive will be every day at the Official Press Bureau
collecting facts and hints; aud now and then ils editor
will have an interview with an exalted person. So well
ia te syste managed that very little characterization
occurs There great daily paper at Cologne Tor In
stance which Ii both able and enterprslng but no one
remembers this paper to have published leader that
cou,d cmbarass the Foreign Office. When an article In
pcrlin paper IL read IL easy tO tell exactly whose In
spiration IL felt or what party resolution finds express
si,p This makes journalism here OF course, weak ana
spiritlsss. , -
II this were the only result OF the system the Germans
would perhaps lie entitled to withdraw 1t as domestic
ottar from the reach OF foreign criticism But they
spread it In imagination over the whole world IL 'ey
have occ,son 10 cite Paris Journal they always let the
reader know what great person IL supposed 10 INSPIRE
the Journal II they mention the Berlin ictrr Vi d" b
rlsh paper they observe that the correspondent Vi
course IA known" at the British Embassy III he pe al
,nerican and writing to an American Journ HIS JPN
ions are charged to the American Legation Indeed
know one gentleman, who happens to write ooth ior Lon
don and New-York, and who Is regularly assigned 10
tho British Embassy or the American Legation
according as he IL quoted from an EngIish OF
from an American paper Inc ho''oh '""' !"
may have his own views OF the topics vi
which he writes seems incredible The fact that COZ
respopdent may have his power OF observation 'n
foreign journal can afford To support sich man III ns
inJenrnd,nce Is treated here with dcrlsioh German
,tars assume TO know all the connections OF
co,rcsnondcnts as well all the secrets OF Ensish III ~
,oriai nares When q noteworthy leader appears III I"e
~ can he ascrained by reference to almost any Berlin
,r,nt two DAYS later who inspired" and often VINO
wrote the article American Journals are only treated
Less f,miliarly because they are further away.
This sort of too. not more uegrauhg 10
io,rnasIn than 10 politics II II not considered u"oi-
INV great to put the Journals which may We ~
hi sery ice Ia the most petty and Illuminating uses ls
was brought out clearly nj the trial OF Count Won
Amin He was charged with inserting false paragraphs,
for uolItIcal effect by indirect means III Belgian papers
Inn he crime lay in the fact that they were Iase anu
embarrassing to the Foreign Once Hence the frprool.
There was no suggestion that II was degrading work o
graf dpoInatis 10 carry on such trainc Win petty
ncial sheets. When an article unIrendy 70 Yer
many ia seen In an English paper Ii charged ~ once 10
Cut Beust nj London II would seem that he mas con
troll III every editorial page In the city, IL II not known
here that not simply the nane but the TACT OF s absolute
is worth more ~ Journal Than aI tlr
ru,u,rv thai can be 0ncred.