No. 104.
Mr. Fish to Mr. Washburne.
Washington, March 1, 1873.
Sir: Your No. 769 of the date of the 13th February last has been received.
The interference of the French government with Mr. de Pardonnet’s [Page 248] lecturing on the advantages held out by a part of the United States to the emigrant is one of those acts of illiberality which it is difficult to believe would have been exercised by a professedly republican government in this age of the world. But as the government of France has thought proper to issue the prohibition, it cannot be alleged that it has transcended the limit of power to which an independent state, if inclined in the direction of the exercise of extreme powers of repression may go without giving ground for remonstrance on the part of other states whose citizens may thereby be prohibited the exercise of free speech, or the opportunity of diffusing information tending to the possible amelioration of the condition of larger numbers of people.
While, then, this action on the part of the French authorities is unexpected from the present government of that country, and is to be regretted, your reply to Mr. de Pardonnet was proper and is approved.
The censorship of the press, the repression of public discussion, and the prohibition of the diffusion of useful information, are matters of internal policy which will not survive the readiness and the fitness of the people who submit them to accept and maintain a more liberal policy.
The stranger who voluntarily goes among the people content to endure such restrictions must be content to accept the same rules which that people accept for themselves.
I am, &c.,