Wichita eagle., 1888-08-05
THE REPTILE FUND.-
SECRET SERVICE FUNDS AT PRINCE
BiSMARCkS DISPOSAL.

6iSmHhCkS OISPOSSC.
Methods by Which the IRON Chancellor
Controls the German Press-Coilection
of Personal Information-Woes Which
Betide an Unfortunate Journal.
The reptile furd-so called because of
Prince Bisnarcks own phrase-consists of
the confiscated fortune Of the king of Han
over, together with an unlsrown grant from
the war indemnity. Speaking of the at
tacks made upon the government by
the press, the chancellor exclaimed Oh
q memorable occasion that as his ad-
ministration was so exposed to maliy-
rant misrepresentation at the hands OF its
adversaries he did not think it tolerable that
he should DO left unarned against so power
full and so INSCRIPTIONS foe. i must have
means" he said, with which TO hunt those
reptiles TO their holes and destroy them
there" Hence the so called reptile fund
which IS simply an indefinite amount Of
secret service monsy at the aisposal Of
Prince Bismarck for controlling The press.
With its aid he 10 said ~ have organized a
news service for the benefit Of the German
government, the Ike of which exists no
where outside OF the pages Of the French
novels which describe the spy system of
Fouche at It's head stands Herr Holstein,
the ame damnee of Prince Bismarck. who
has at his command a disciplined host OF con-
fdential reporters who enable him TO follow
unseen the movements of all his adversaries.
The great chancellor never ncgiects any foe,
no matter how Insignificant
fha ~ thu sacraf irta1ii-
gence bureau at Berlin, under Herr Holstein,
whom from time to time it thinks necessary
to Prince Bismarck to watch with a view to
Interior Developments. The minuteness Of
the information thus stored up for future
use is very extraordinary, and suggests
many uncomforta bic reflections A friend
OF mine resident in Germany once had an
opportunity of seeing his own dossier. There
in he found set down all particulars OF him
self and his family and his relations A list
was given Of all the people whom he was in
the habit Of receiving, and a detailed report
of all the correspondents 70 whom he was in
habit of writing To this man, it was written,
be sends letters every week, to the other
every day, TO a third he writes sometimes
twice q week, and then ceases 10 write for q
week or a month.
But the possession OF an indefinite amount
Of secret service money for purposes Of cor
ruption, and the accumulation from al the
unseen channels Of ubiquitous secret police Of
a vast reservoir of Information for Use If re-
quired, are by no means the only instruments
by which Prince Bismarck keeps his press In
good order. How il it doner exclaimed q
witty victim Of the cbanceiloTs surveillance.
at is very simple Some fine day all the
editors Of Berlin are summoned TO the Office
of the oracle. They are told that the govern
ment is IL possession Of such and such an
important piece OF Information which is com
municated 70 them, not for publication, but =.
In confidence, In order that when the oppor-
tune moment arrives they may be well ia
formed A nod b q good q a wink To q
blind horse, and before very long one or other
OF the editors discovers in some mysteYiouz
way that the time has arrived When the cat
must he let out Of the bag Be Lets II GU: &C
cordingly, and al his brothern follow suit.
and the news, true or faise, In launched ia
due FORM
But what" asked, III an editor sefus.s
to take the hint and obstinateiy abstains
from circulating the Official corln,nAqoe<
Then, )" was tho reply, lit does not 90 wen
with that exceptional newspaper MiSfurt
unes always attend the Journal which f. fool |
hardly enough 70 ignore q tdnt from sbova.e /
''W hat kind OF uaisortunesf ''Oh, all kinds /
Of misfortune Dormant lavrutts nays.eri- /
ouxty rsappsar; ceicil atvcrtisz1su.s are /
withd-awn; privileges q sale or Of dHpIay, !
which depend upon the good wiz q ths sd- /
are suspended But perhaps 4
tie usost Efficient eIEo Of tbs chancellor ard 1
MS my.midoos are the venders of ouscx
medicines Tor the cure Of nnzDcncioasbis dis
,asaan How, IN the nayns q wonder, can
hat beF It's vary Empte In the ckxhsyA
land the government charges itseH With
wstchf1l gsic.tude tar shs morals Of IL rub
;ecs3. But - even Homer surncf.nes uoiA
70 tie most vigIlant Adsusnaslsaftols soEss
lines fafl to discover that tbs columns of
jsxraan ncwxpapers are 6sGied By tie frxr~
ioa Of advertisements q immoral pills or BY
be address Of rnclean doctorR Whsa. how
'ver, any ne~rpeper cn1ct-uous,J oZprsn
tsek 20 The viii Of the auihorirsea, tie eas-
odlsn q public morals p1s CT els sp~sE5s,
Iad wee be..de Tbs nutostunsse Journal u 10
Be obacBcss ooFnR Of bis hnfly pRfuEad
age there sEoah - discovered iryfasS sn
llussoa % the ohjsrscnab.e pip q s6e d.s
ep1aoeie physician Tie sAEintxsrz4*oa q
.o~n 1poa hin at o-cs. an4 pcn.sbue14 u
leasea oa pc-:st-ssus Unit; tie et.s1 Gs-
ssass TO can-s TO tss Sapsrg et po~u. Taea
5e cszssSt.ao u pablo nxSais oaos rooes
lG-no<rs srd Esssps, md The qnsok sdvae-
SIS rs p.is In peace
Add u. tbs :hst prszz prosecu.sors for rReD
fszs<s are - pleatsfuI - hsAcktesrsa. shss
.1tors are sezt 20 al - ssloas Tor VIA.
voad b regarded II EnSian1 - peTsscsix
essssc:ra cpca she Anses1cx, tss
al the cities Ia CerDs5J are under . as,s
( sssxs, and yea cAn form SOTO IDA q -.
.c2i..s wsica Prince B4xz.arck r..~.ss4,
q manipulating ia tcarnsls 1t sos fssaer>
.n6 Pal xal 6ascssA