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PORTLAND GAZETTE, AND MAINE ADVERTISER
Portland, Published by Arthur Shirley… Exchange Street.
Monday, September 3, 1810
DARK AGE.
We have on our files the decree of Bonaparte relative to Printing in France. As it is long, we have thought proper to give a summary of its contents. This is a precious morsel for the friends of the Emperor. It is a part of what Duane would call the continental system — a system which is to reduce mankind to a state of barbarism, that tyrants can more easily rule them. The system of democracy in this country, goes hand in hand with Bonaparte’s system of tyranny in Europe. Ignorance is supported, and knowledge and civilization are disregarded and discouraged. The most ignorant and abandoned of mankind are raised to places of offices and trust, while the enlightened and candid are neglected and oppressed. Our government have not yet suppressed information by interdicting the press, but the people have done every thing to keep themselves in ignorance which they can possibly do. Democrats will read nothing in federal papers; they will take no pains to compare dates, or to find whether what they read is true or false. — When people are thus determined to be ignorant, what is the use of printing? When a man is determined that he will not receive information, it is of very little use to lay it before him — You may talk to him, and print for him, he will still be ignorant. — An ignorant man is easily led astray — he envies the man of enlightened mind, and would sooner vote for an unprincipled blockhead, than an honest and upright man of talents and learning. This kind of system leads to riot and anarchy — anarchy leads to absolute despotism, and ignorance fits the people to bear that despotism. So that we find our country not so far behind those of Europe in the road to darkness as many may imagine. We are ignorant, violent and headstrong — we have no respect for any thing great and noble among mankind; and we want nothing but a Bonaparte to reduce us to as complete a state of slavery, as that under which all Europe now groans.
The following is a summary of Bonaparte’s decree for the suppression of printing: The reader will perceive that the number of presses allowed in France is not sufficient to supply the people of France with school-books, so that reading and writing will soon be confined to a few in that devoted country. The American may reflect if he pleases, on the conduct of this upstart tyrant; he knows that this is the government of which the majority of the people in the United States are so very fond. This is the government which all good democrats wish to support. — And this the government in favor of which, we shall, in all probability, go to war in less than a year.
The business of printing and book-selling is declared to be under an inspector general, assisted by six auditors subject to his control, and other subordinate agents.
The number of printing offices after the 1st of January, 1811, is to be reduced throughout the empire — the number in Paris to be sixty; each office in Paris restricted to four presses, in the departments to two each. The printers whose offices are suppressed, to receive and indemnity from those continued. Printers and book-sellers to produce vouchers of good character, receive a patent and be sworn. In filling vacancies preference is to be given to families of deceased printers. The minister of police, prefects of departments and special censors, are auxiliaries to carry this grand engine of despotism into effect. The censor examines, erases and reports; the prefects and minister of police suspend, and the director-general decides upon the publication of any work. If any work be commenced and the publication thereafter be prohibited, the printed sheets to be seized, and the types composed, as the printers would say, thrown into pie. A duty of fifty per cent ad valorum on all French and Latin books permitted to be imported. No books printed or reprinted out of France, to be imported without a permit. Copy rights secured to authors and their widows during life, and to their children for twenty years. Copy rights transferable. The first volume of every work imported, to be stamped. Every work licensed to be printed, to have affixed on the title page, the name of the author if known, and the name of the printer — an omission of the latter incurs fine and confiscation. Each printer to deposit five copies of the works he may be licensed to publish for special purposes, in the prefecture of the department in which he resides, and in Paris, in the prefecture of the police. Printing, book-selling, type founding, book-binding, and all connected therewith, are comprised in the decree and subject to future dispositions. There are many other minutia of minor consequence which we have omitted to notice.
(New York Herald)
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