The Liberals of Germany are greatly alarmed by the pro-
posal of a new Press Law. The Government of Prussia wishes to abandon the special legislation against Socialists, and to pass a general law under which any journalist who attacks the Throne, or religion, or marriage, or society, or who endeavours to set class against class, may be sentenced to three years' imprisonment, and may after that be ordered not to reside within certain districts. Moreover, any journal whose writers have been twice convicted within one year may be finally suppressed. Even the Cologne Gazette admits that under such a law there can be no freedom, and all Liberal parties are preparing to coalesce in resisting it. The decision rests with the Centre Party, which will be conciliated by the clause about religion, but which cannot forget that it may again be compelled to resist a Culturkampf. We have said enough about this proposal elsewhere, but may point out here that the Emperor is making great efforts to conciliate the Deputies, and has this week departed from the usual etiquette of his Court, to attend a "Parliamentary dinner" given by Prince Bismarck. After dinner, his Majesty de- lighted the guests by permitting smoking, and chatting familiarly with all present.
Previous page
