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Germany, next to Russia, is perhaps the most absolute in lier control of the press of any civilized nation of the globe. One of the causes of the discontent iunong her people arises froni this fact. It was said of Frederic the Great that wben offensive pasquils were issued against him he would order theplacards to be placed low down on the walls that people might read them the moreeasily. ince bis day the kings of Prussia have not exhibited the same magnanimity. By desrees as the press bas been growing more important as a factor in shaping the thoughts of men its freedom bas been rolatively more circuniscribed. It is by no means au easy matter to write editorials on the policy of the Emperor and satisfy the demanda of the most liberal side of society at the same time. Magistüts Beleidigung (offense against the Emperor) hangs like the sword of Damocles over every editor's head. This legal expression is as expansive and as broad of construction in the Germán courts as the general welfare clause of the Federal Constitution is witb us. The extent to which its interpretation is carried is sometimes radiculous. Here is an instance- The present Emperor is extremely fond of travel and is "on the go" a considerable part of the time. An innocent editor desiring to make au epigramatic Mmparison of the Emperors of Germany putitin this way: William the First was the Old Man (Greise) ; Frederic bis son was the wise man (Weise) and WUliam the Second is aTraveling .Man (Reise). The editor was given six tnonthsin Moabit prison for this brief and accurate characterization. It is safe to say that the press in Germany to-day is under more restraint than at any time in twenty-five years except dunng the few years when the Anti-Socialist law.was in force. It bas long been a popular saying tbere when a iiian's veracity is in question to teil him "He lies like print" (Erluegt wie gedruckt), showing that the people cannot believe the press. The editor is usually prevented fröm expressing an lioiiest opinión. Almost the only paper that dares speak the truthis the "Yoruaerts"- the Social-Democratic organ in Berlin. It is interesting to notice the calmness with which this paper evades the pólice ordinances. They have invented a ■Mail Editor" one who is ready at a momeut's notice to serve out sentences in prison. The process is practically as follows- The editor-in-chief decides to attack the government and to arouse public sentiment (a rather difficult task in Germany) in behalf of the cause of snnifll democrarv. It is a law in fiian that a copy of every issue must be , sent to the Political Pólice department before tlie edition is eirculated. As everything in departunental ifïairs moves slowly, the paper is usually scanned by the pólice department some hoursafteirit is on sale at the news stand, a fact which has never yet been wholly remedied. As soon as the fiery editorial comes to the notice of the pólice every copy of the edition is ordered confiseated. ïhen comes the arrest of the editor. If perchance the entire edition is forestalled the arrest of the editor follows jast the same and the issue on the following morning willcontain this, bj' no means infrequent, item - "We wlsh to inform our readers that our last issue was iorbidden and confiscated by the pólice. The 'assistant-editor' of this paper Herr. So and so, has been adjudged guilty of violating section 479 of the press laws and wil! enter to-day on his three months sentence of imprisonment." Far from discouraging either ■ subscribers or editor, it appeals to the curiosity of the qne which ia very great, and affords a triumpb for the other. The next day another jail editor is employed. It is a fact that as many as three jail editors have been sent over to Moabit one after another beiore the sentence of the first had expired. It is not an exaggeration to say that the above announcment occurs at least once each quarter in the above mentioned paper. The jail editor assumes the entire responsibility for any attack made on the crown or on the policy of the government. Aa every article in a Germán newspaper must bear the signature or sign, usually the latter, of the supposed writer, and "these signs are registered like a trade-mark, there is no difficulty in determining who stands responsible for the articles. The difficulty is to teil who wrote them, and this does not enter into the case. Some one must go to jail to attone for the crime, henee the rnison d'etre of the jail editor. Do you ask what he said that the courtconsidered aBeleidigung (offense). Perhaps onlythis: "The Germán people represent a great pyramid, consisting of the vast mass of common people and laborers„at the bottom, with a little Prussian pimple standing on the top. Every issue of every paper is scanned by the Political Pólice Department as carefully as it is by the editor himself. I remember once ca'lling on the chief of the censors of the press, and having hecome much interested in the conversation I remained somewhat longer than liis stream of business would roiilly warrant, for as I passed out of the door into the long hall there stood a line of attendants, each with the latest issue of a paper under his arm from all quarters of Berlin, waiting to have the copy he carried "vise'd" (passed upon) like a railroad ticket in Italy. The censor informed me tliat abont forty of the secret pólice were alloted to his "department. They sit in the presa galleries of the Reichstag, pretendmgto report the proceedings; they sometimea hire out to a paper to see if secret editions are printed ; they even act as f oreign correspondents in order to catch the editor napping. It takes quite as much ingenuity to run the news-end of the Berlin press as it does the "ad"end of an American paper in time of a panic. The growing power of social-democracy, one of whoso fundamental principies is freedom of the press, has led the present emperor to make one desperate attempt to throttle the press. He bas caused to be framed what is known as the anti-resolution bill, which purports to be for the security of the Fatherland. One oí its provisions is that anyone who ntters or writes anythiDg which is used by any person to stir up the people, whether the latter are aroused or not, the writer (if living), as well as the agitator, is to be adjudged guilty of crime and subject to heavy fine and imprisonment. The venerable courts' pastor, Stoecker, said conceruing this clause, that if it became a law, "we must bauish William Teil from our literature," lest it arouse souie to ideas of liberty. Bismarck more recentlysaid: "It struck at the foundations of all Germán liberties." A stronger example of the spirit of absolutisui has not been given even by Eussia in recent years than this that William II. now seeks to introducé ander the guise of "defensive legislation." The chances are, however, that the emperor will suffer parliamentary defeat. He will probably find that the giving of millious of marks for the creation of statues of Brandenburg princes in the Thiergarten will not atone for any attempt it the suppression of free thouglit, free speech and free press. It is to be hoped that the rights of the people will triumph at this session of the Keichstag; that the press will gain a larger measure of freedoin, and that the jail editor will have his title permaneutiy chauged. To be sure, he will be sorely missed by the prison wardens in Moabit. That . i To read what is said a bout the city lock-up ly some of the "sympathetic" people, one would tliink that the room tempocarily Hxed up therefor, was a terrible place, unfit to put a human being in. Suoh. is not the case. It Is & room made more comfortable i1kui is generally "enjoyed" by the class of people who are called upon to remain therein. If any one thlnks that a jail sliould be fitted up witb. Bofas, and upholstereil furmiture, and hand decorated ciispadoTes a-nd all t-liat sort of thing, i liey O'uglit to accompajiy our offlcers a few times wlu'.n arrcsts are made and find out a thing or two lor themselves. Here is a paragrapli taken from the roiTeim(lence of a Detroit paper, iliat for pure kllocy takes tlie paetry : "There is aaiother feature of the case even. more barbarous. If a woman was arrested for drunkenness or disorderly conduct, t-he would have to be put in this den with, the men, no mat tei' in whnt eondition they were." That is ;u insult to our city and her officials, and pro ves that the writer fcoew nolhini? of what he was writing about. Our offieers are neither fools nor immoral lepers. Tne lock up is not all that could be uosired, thafs trae, but t is all that is .necessary until a bstter one can be provided. It's piue bunlis are as soit as t'.ie iron bunks in the jaü, and as no' one is confinod in this place more than one nig-ht, it is plenty good eraougli for the purpose until a better ome oan be provided. The principal reason why a movement in this direction vva.s made was becausO of the attitude of the Board of Supervisors, who have i ly i'efused to aJlow anything to officere irom the city who did this sort of work. Tliey ha%ie refused to see that the work done was more than paid for by fines and fees, and lia-e fought every such bill tootli and nail. AVhcn the ammouncement was made that AAn Arbor city had provided her owa lock up, to the last Board at its odjo'urned session, it was -received witli a cheer. It has coiné to that stage where A.nn Arbor Is f o rccd to próvido her own lock up. The present one is the only availablc room to bo had for the purpose. It wíl! do very well until a better one can bo provided, and it is uot as bad as pictured by too s.vnipatlit'tic people, wlio do not . realize that a píim; slat is just as warm and hospltable as an Iron bar. The city needs a good lock up and will have one after a little. It will be money in tlie pockets of our city tax-ptayers to have one, and until tibien the city "will have to do as it (■ui. niot as it wouM like to do.