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1292 THE LEADER. [pQ - 4£S, November 27,...
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The Suxdat Question.—Last week the debat...
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ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE.
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FBANCE, (From our own Correspondent.') P...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Biographies Of German Princes. ]N T O, I...
Palatinate—that is , Rhenish Bavaria—rose 111 insurrection and altogether threw off royal authority , establishing a provisional government on a republican basis . The intervention of the Prince of Prussia , \ vho inarched with a large army against the Palatinate and JSaden , made an end to this promising Jjopular movement . Fortunately , almost all the eaders found means to escape the wrath of reaction . A few onlv were captured , and these met with the severest fate . One of them , a Count Fugger , colonel
jn the Bavarian army , and a member of the millionnaire family of that name at Augsburg , was sentenced to death by court-martial . It is said his father was asked by some humane men of the Conservative party whether he did not intend to implore tlie mercy of the Xlrown . The father , an ultrareactionist himself , replied , "No Met justice have its course ! " Young Fugger was afterwards shot according to the sentence .
This is not the only instance of the severity of the present King ' s government . In order to give our readers a correct picture of his administration , \< re need only say that ,, a few years ago , in Rhenisli Bavaria , at one sitting of the High Tribunal , no less than three hundred and thirty sentences of death were pronounced against absent democratic exiles , and that all these sentences , up to this day , remain uncancelled . Happily for humanity , the intended victims are out of the clutches of "justice . " But can we wonder , under such circumstances , that the
population of Rhenish Bavaria has fearfutty diminished , and is still on the decrease ? What avails it , in presence of such facts , that King Maximilian should play the condescending towards a certain species of sycophant Court literati , whom he treats on an apparently equal footing in his cigar divan ? These mockeries of royal simplicity of manners can only corrupt those who are already worthless— -but will never mitigate the absolutistic nature of the King ' s government .
In more recent times , the King of Bavaria has . seenied inclined somewhat to forego these literary . acquaintances , and to cultivate with greater zeal the priestly element . His social manners are becoming constrained ; his policy grows more and jmore unscrupulous . A few weeks ago he sumwarily dissolved the Legislature before it had held j a single sitting , merely because it was known that a certain moderate Liberal would be elected its '
president . The Munich . Court Gazette tried to . palliate this measure , by declaring that " an aristo- ' XJratico-republican conspiracy had been concocted , calculated to introduce into Bavaria a parliamentary ; government like that of England , where in reality republicanism rules supreme , while the Crown is but a cypher . " With such bombastic nonsense the King endeavours to mask the despotic measures ' with which he now pursues , not only democrats , ' but even the most loyal constitutional Liberals .
1292 The Leader. [Pq - 4£S, November 27,...
1292 THE LEADER . [ pQ - 4 £ S , November 27 , 1 S 58 .
The Suxdat Question.—Last Week The Debat...
The Suxdat Question . —Last week the debate between Mr . Baxter Langley , of the Sunday League , and Mr . Robert Court , of the Protestant Laymen ' s Association , was concluded in the City Hall , Glasgow , where upwards of three thousand persons attended . Mr . Langley opened by a disquisition on the necessity of the -culture of the whole of man ' s nature , if we could make liim a religious being , and went on to show that the etudy of nature was absolutely necessary to completo -education , and that the opening of museums , & c , on the
Sunday afternoon should be regarded as an accessory to religious teaching in the church and school . Mr . Court replied that any recreation or instruction , except in the chapel or sabbath school , was immoral , Mr , Langley showed that drunkenness and Sabbatarianism went hand in hand , that in sabbath-keeping Scotland immorality Attained its maximum in Europe , and that unmixed good had everywhere resulted from the rational use of Sunday . The proceedings were concluded with votes of thanks to the chairmen ,
The Duke of Wellington ' s ConitEsroN & ENCE . — An advertisement in the Dublin papers states that the correspondence of the late Duko of Wellington from September , 1805 , to April , 1807 , is mi 8 eing . His Grace -was of opinion that ho had deposited these papers somewhere | n Dublin , on assuming , in 1807 , the office of Chief Secretary of Ireland . They are supposed to bo in boxes in some public store ,, or bank , or in some private house in Dublin . Any information that may lead to the discovery of these papers will be liberally rewarded by the present Duko .
Spanish Puimty . —JLei \ TAonnea Pauvrea , n play of the JPamt awo CanuSliaa class , which had a great run at the Vaudeville theatre in Paris some months ago , has been prohibited at Madrid . " A lesson of morality from Madrid I" remarks GaHpnani . The Entr ' acte exclaims , " II y a done encore dea £ * yre * nrfea ?"
Original Correspondence.
ORIGINAL CORRESPONDENCE .
Fbance, (From Our Own Correspondent.') P...
FBANCE , ( From our own Correspondent . ') Paris , Thursday , G £ p . m . Thk Leader was stopped in the post again last week , not , I am informed , for anything it contained , but because such was the bpa plaisir ot some officious underling in the police department , especially charged with the honourable office of dry-nursing the press . It is no more than fair to remark that the Post-office authorities Have nothing to do with these despotic and ridiculous measures , which proceed from the police , but for which , nevertheless , they arc held responsible in public opinion . In the different reclamations I have from time to time had occasion to rflake , I have invariably found
among the chiefs of the Post-office most courteous attention and a praiseworthy desire to promote the public service . To politics , in the discharge of their duties , they are as much strangers as the gentlemen iu St . Martin ' sle-Grand , and from M . Sturm , the ' Postmaster-General , down to the sorters , there is not one who , if left to his own free will , would open a letter or withhold a newspaper . A gentleman , holding a high and important position under Government , said the other day , in reply to my inquiry what could be the motive or reason for stopping papers in this way , "There is no reason , cest de Parbiti-aire . " There can be no doubt that he is perfectly right , for , independently of his being in a position to know the whv and the wherefore , the conduct of the
press police clearly proves the absence of all reason . There is an Englishman here who is connected with the London press , and who receives , among other English papers , the Leader . Ills copy of your journal which contained my letter , in which mention was made of 3 Ir . D right's exhibition at Birmingham , and of the fact that c rtain London papers were subventioned by the French Government , and inspired by the French Foreign-office , is quite a curiosity . When he received it from the Post-ortice , he found it cut open and two paragraphs marked on the side with pencil aiul certain expressions therein underscored with red chalk . The first was the expression " heaven-born Bonaparte , " which is no more than a fair translation of the epithet repeatedly applied to the
It is needless to say that admission waa refused to the recognised representatives of the press . No notes were allowed to be taken except by the Government short . hand writer , whose version of what took place may perhaps be published after public interest has subsided and after the report lias been subjected to correction and emendation . I say perhaps , for it ia very doubtful whether anything will be allowed to appear beyond what has been supplied by the Government to the papers , and a translation of which I subjoin . The case was tried before M . Berthelin , vice-president , and in the sixth chamber of Correctional Police . The charge against M . de Montalembert as author , and against M . Douniol
as editor , was " exciting to hatred and contempt of the Government ; attacking the principle of universal suffrage and the rights which the chief of the State holds from the constitution ; attacking the respect due to the laws ; and exciting the hatred of citizens ona towards another . " These offences are by law qualified misdemeanours . The court was opened at twelve o ' clock , but long before then all who Were fortunate enough to secure tickets of admission were in attendance , some at seven o ' clock , and nearly all before nine . M . CorUouen , Prucureur Imperial in some provincial town , I believe , appeared to prosecute on behalf of the Government . It is a significant
fact that recourse had to be had to a comparatively unknown advocate . Can it be possible . that M . Chats d'Est-An ** e and other leading crown lawyers in Paris can have had- any scruples , and have refused to degrade themselves by appearing in such a cause V ftl . Berryer defended M . de Montal . einbert , arid M . Bufaure defended M . Douniol . The judge , who , as I stated on a previous occasion , always plays the part of a public prosecutor , opened proceedings by interrogating M . Douniol and then M . de Aloritaleinbert . I am not aware that M . licrthelin
exceeded the ordinary licence ¦ indulged in . by French judges . It is said that he kept as far as possible witiiia the limits of moderation ; for , although being desirous to keep his scat and salary by doing the work of the present Government , he lias too much experience of the kaleidoscope of French politics not to know that it is quite Avitliin the range of probability for M . de Montalembert and his friends to have-it within their power at some future , and perhiips not very distant , day to dispense the loaves and fishes of judicial administration . It Bertlielin t to
Emperor by his most zealous courtiers . In Brittany his Majesty was called " 1 'liomrae du doigt de Dieu , " " le prince envoye-par la Providence . " There could , consequently , be " nothing discourteous nor offensive iri my phrase . If I am to be rebuked for it , surely the archbishops , priests , prefects , and mayors who used it before me , and from whom I borrowed , ought not to be allowed to go unpunished . The second phrase that had the honour to be scored was that > ylrich referred to the English journals receiving foreign subventions . The fact is too notorious to be contradicted ; and the shame does certainly not rest upon the 'French Government . Queen Elizabeth , when she said " I love the treason , but despise the traitor , " settled that point , and I fear no
is , therefore , very likely that M . sough please all parties—en lucjenut entre daux caux-. After the interrogatory , which consisted maiirly , I believe , in formalities as to " name , age , birth , and profession , and as to the responsibility of the two gentlemen for the authorship and publication of the article attacked , the Government prosecutor , M . Cordouen , who by his name would seem to be a Bas-Breton , made a speech—and a most dismal dreary , lamentable affair it was—stupidly ferocious , and still more stup idly servile . Ihe before he had been
measure of the man was taken speaking five minutes , and after the opening specimens of Ms dull platitudes and fulsome adulation of power no one listened to him . M . Berryer followed with the defence of M . de Montalerobert . Ilia speech , I am told , was a masterpiece of eloquence , a noble and dignified protest against despotism and the tyranny of the press , an e . iergelic vindication of *« W " , and a sweeping denunciation of the manufacture of laws for personal and special ends . . But the pnhn is given by ill reports to M . Dufaure , who followed the replof
Government has progressed beyond this peculiar morality , and * learned to despise both treason and traitor . There was nothing in the two sentences to excite the apprehension and indignation of the police , and I must say that such also was the opinion of the authorities , for your journal was delivered in duo course , although after the other papers . For the information of the police here , whose attention will of course be called to the preceding observations next Sunday , I beg to state that they totally misapprehend tlie duties and disposition of the correspondents of English newspapers . In the first place , they are gentlemen by social position and education , which the police authorities very seldom nro . Next , the correbut in
iss ^^ srs ^ s ^^ ySS The eloquence and argument wore of ou we ciit . reiy lost , for the last Council of State held at ^ npw ai « j it is said , had decided what verdict should be g von ana what puufahmont awarded . Nevertheless , the judgo ^ nd his assistant , after the pleading were terminated , ic tireU ^ w deliberate , (?) and to wine and biscuits . So . no tim JJ wards they re-entered the court , ond »™« »™» J silence M . Berthelin read the following judgment , or
spondents of English journals have onu object view—to render , independently of nil personal bias , faithful accounts of fucta that come within their notice ; and if they do sometimes err , it is not from any hostility to the authorities , but from tho difflculty of obtwining accurate information through the onlitiury und legitimate chonnold . With a proas fettered , and spies established in private life , occurrences can only bo whisperod , and there in nothing surprising that tlioy should thus become distorted or misrepresented . The only wonder id that , with all these obstucles in their path , tho correspondents of tho London papers should bo so singularly accurate and guarded in their information . It is absurd for the police to suppose that English journalists here have personal ill-will or enmity against tho head of tho
"WhoWM , In the . rovlour called tho Correspond nt ha , appeared on the 25 th October , ISoH ., j nrtW » titled 'A pJbate on India in . tho «!<»» i > irllfl m » Seeing tJiat tho Comto do ^^ ' ^ ' ^ " ^^^^ Sfol-Ucd self to bo the author of that article ; that he o ° r ^ u its publication ; that Douniol admits us P ""*! ^ "" ! , ;^ " Whereas , that in tho course of this art . ele rltwn in a spirit of systematic uiHnnratfomont , tho mi «'• j tho continual coiitnuawhich he is pleased to ma £ » ^ outbotwoon tho institutions Hint Inmeq ' •»•» fc' \ V , horsolf anil those of n power ulliod to lipttn ??» "" , j oni his duty to pour out irony und outrage upon tliopom laws , tho won , and tho ncl * of the Ot'V « riiiiniii i ^ " That threo nilrnhjiiiouiiourn—1 . Y * V TIio miahntrcd and coi . tompt of tho Govornmont ; -. *« { demeanour of ntt «« k offnlnut tho pr nelple of unnj auffrago , and tho rights and nmliorliy wliJol w « of the S ' tato l » old « from the oonstUutJou , a ,, «• { misdemeanour of attack against the" ro- |» oo I ' « * laws , and tho inviolability of the rights whlpH JJ > ft d aeorate-rosult from-tho whole of tho sale artlow . ' ^ particularly from the p »« iageii ^'""'"^ , j co ncldc , ' words , ' v / lion my oars tlntfle , V » W * ° . ' , J 0 , ollly , ' page 200 ; 'In OonaUn , p « tf « 20 i > 5 4 Wo httV 0 nv
State and his Government . To them , individually , and In thoir literary charaoter , it is a matter of perfect indifference who is In power , or in whoso name public business may bo carried on . Certainly we should ( or , at least , some of us ) be bettor pleased to live under a more liberal regime . If our loiters woro delivered rogularly , if our papers were not stopped In tho post , if we woro not registered nt ttio polico-offlco , and if wo could Ulk freely In public company with tho certainty that our noighbours or acquaintances were not moucharda , it would bo infinitely more agreeable to report tho gradual do . velopment of liberty and solf-govornmont in Franco , tho contentment of her inhabitants , and tho moderation of tho authorities , thnn to bo compelled to do tho contrary , Tho trial of M . de Montulombert cunie on yesterday .
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 27, 1858, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27111858/page/20/
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