The Stark County Democrat

MACMAHON AND FRANCE

Suppressing Newspapers, Arbitrary Arrests and Tyranny Generally

LONDON, August 10. The electoral campaign on the part of the French government daily becomes more active and oppressive.

Hawkers of newspapers at Compiegne were recently required to furnish a list of the newspapers they serve to their customers in the arrondissement; and the officials there have suppressed the delivery of the Siecle, Nineteenth Century, Presse, Republique Francaise, National, Bien Republique, Petit Republique Francaise and Petit Journal, all Republican journals. The Union Liberale, of Versailles, was sentenced to 3,000 francs fine and the manager was imprisoned three months for insulting President MacMahon.

The Nineteenth Century and Petit Parisien were prosecuted for publishing a colored map of France, showing the political complexion of departments, the offense declared against them being the unauthorized publication of a drawing. The Court convicted them, but passed nominal sentences of fifty francs on each.

Two clubs at Arles have been closed, charged with being political assemblages. A newspaper at Toulouse has been fined 100 francs for refusing to print the speech of President MacMahon.

The Minister of Agriculture has asked the prefects, in a circular letter, to remind employes of the Department of Agriculture that it is their duty not to attempt to thwart the action of the Cabinet or place at the service of hostile parties the influence they derive from their offices.

The Paris police have forbidden the street sale of photographs of Thiers. The papers announce that 80,000 copies of the equestrian portrait of President MacMahon are to be distributed in the provinces.

The offence of speaking insultingly of MacMahon in the streets has now become the subject of daily action before the courts. Lefevre Durfie, who may be said to have originated this offence, was condemned to two months' imprisonment but succeeded, on appeal, in reducing the term to fifteen days. He is a son of the former Bonapartist Senator.

The Court of Bordeaux has revised the decision of an inferior tribunal, and fined a bookseller who sold newspapers without special authorization. On the other hand, the tribunals of Nevers and Carcassonne have declared themselves competent to try actions by newspapers against prefects for preventing the street sale thereof.