Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1888-08-07
TIE REPTILE FUND.-
SECRET SERVICE FUNDS AT PRINCE
BlsMARcKs DISPOSAL,
Methods by Which the Iron Chancellor
Controls the German Press-Coliection
of Personal Information--Noes Which
Betide an Unfortunate journal.

Controls the German I'ress-Coliection
of Personal Information--woes Which
Betide an Unfortunate journal.
The reptile fund-so called because Of /
Prince Bismarcks own phrase-consists Of |
the confiscated fortune Of the king Of Han
over, together with an unknown grant from
tho war indemnity. Speaking Of the at
tacls made upon the government by
the press, the chancellor exclaimed on
a memorable occasion that as his adj
ministration YVES SO exposed TO malig
nant misrepresentation at Che hands Of its
adversaries, he did not think it tolerable that
he should be left unarmed against so power
full and 50 unscrlEpulous a foe. ~ must have
means he said, ''with which TO hunt those
reptiles TO their holes aud destroy them
there Hence the SO called reptile fund,
which is simply Ga indefinite amount OF
secret service money at the disposal OF
Prince Bismarck for controlling the press.
With its aid he is said to have organized
news service for tho benefit Of the German
government, the like Of which exists mo-
where outside Of the pages Of the French
novels which describe the spy system of
Fouche. At its head stands Herr Holstein,
the anne damnee Of Prince Bismarck, who
Ids az iAAASA AANoN - ~
A1ential reporters, who enable him to follow
nlseen the movements Of all his hdversaries.
The great chancellor never neglects any foe,
no matter how Insignificant.
At the chanccllery of the secret intelli-
gence bureau at Berlin, under Herr Holstein,
are kept the dossiers of every manor woman
whom from time to time it thinks necessary
to Prince Bismarck TO watch with view TO
Interior DEVELOPMENTS Tho minuteness Of
the information thus stored up for future
nse is very extraordinary, and suggests
many uncomfortable reflections A friend
OF mine resident i'll Germany once had an
opportunity of seeing his own dossier. There
ia 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 detailed report
Of all the correspondents to whom he was in
habit of writing. To this man, it was written,
he sends letters every week, TO the other
every day, to a third he writes sometimes
twice week, and then ceases TO write for
week or a month.
But the possession Of an indefinite amount
Of secret service money for purposes OF cor
r1,ation. aud tho accumulation from all the
unseen channels of ubiquitous secret police OK
a vast reservoir of information for use if re-
NlulltAls Att " iAA AlAleAAa AN -LtA
By which Prince Bismarck keeps his press in
good order. How is it donef" exclaimed a
witty victim Of the chancellor's surveillance.
st is very simple. Some fine day all the
editors OF Berlin are summoned to. the oflics
OF the oracle. They are told that the govern
ment is in possession of such and such an
important piece of information which is COM
Inunicated to them, not for publication, but
in confidence, in order that when the oppor-
tune moment arrives they may be well in
formed A nod is as good as a wink TO a
blind horse, and before very long one or other
Of tho editors discovers in some mysterious
way that the time has arrived when the cat
must be let out Of the bag. He lets it out &c
cordingly, and all his brethern follow suit
and the news, true or false, in launched il
due FORM
"But WHAT I asked, "if an editor refuses
to take the hint and obstinately abstaini
from circulating the official communiquef
, "Then, was the reply, lit does not 80 wei
with that exceptional newspaper Misfort
/ ures always attend the journal which is fool
hardly enough to ignore hint from above.
"What kind Of misfortmesi" sob, all kind
Of misfortune. Dormant lawsuits mysteri
ously reappear; official advertisements ar
withdrawn; privileges Of sale or Of display
which depend upon the good will OF the ad
ministration, are suspended. But perhap
the most efficient allies Of the chancellor an'
a his myrmidons are the vendors of quacl
medicines for the cure Of uncomfortable dis
cases. Glow in the name of wonder, cal
that bega "It is very simple. In the father
land the government charges itself witt
3 watchful solicitude for the morals of its sub
iects But as even Homer sometimes mods
i so the most vigilant administrations some
4 times fail to discover that the columns o
German newspapers are deflled by the insei
ton Of advertisements of immoral pills or b.
70 the address Of unclean doctors. When, how
u ever, any newspaper continuously oppose
itself to the will of the authorities, the cui
r todian Of public morals puts on his spectaclei
?, and woe betide the unfortunate journal ii /
the obscurest corner Of his badly printe
!, page there should be discovered lurking a
! allusion TO the Objectionable pill or the dii
:, reputable physician. The administration
= down upon him at once, and punishment
heaped on punishment until the editor cor
ls sents TO dance TO the piping Of power. The
ID the custodian Of public morals once moi
II slumbers and sleeps, and the quack adye
tises his pills in peace
. Add to.this that press prosecutions for pre-
!. offenses are as plentiful us blackberries, tbs
editors are sent to jail as felons for WHIT
y would be regarded in England as perfect
- justifable criticism upon the chancellor, thu
half the cities in Germany are under a stat
10 Of siege and you can form some idea OF Il
le facilities which Prince Bismarck possess
for manipulating the journals Of the fathe
% | Land Pail Mall Eogafto