General Caprivi has also delighted Liberals by abolishing what has
been called the "Reptile Fund." He will not sub- sidise newspapers, or use them, as Prince Bismarck did, to attack his enemies. The whole House cheered this declaration, the practice of paying for leaders appearing to all sides alike fatal to the independence of the Press. The Radical editors, too, hate their " assisted " competitors. General Caprivi was, however, careful to make one reserve, which he described with almost cynical frankness. He must occa- sionally use independent newspapers. He could not leave the Press wholly to the opponents of the Government, and he might want to issue a demi-official statement and then to repudiate it. In that ease, it would be awkward to put both the statement and the repudiation of the statement in the Reichsanzeiger ! This naif declaration of a readiness to deceive, "especially in foreign affairs," did not shock the Diet at all; but it may hereafter have an effect the Chancellor does not foresee. It will, if it is remembered, throw doubt upon the first communique which he may greatly desire to have believed, and so deprive him of his weapon altogether. It is curious to note that the very idea of a news- paper which is friendly to Government but is not paid by it, is foreign to German politicians. They are so accustomed to see Governments acting against public sentiment, that they cannot conceive of a free criticism which should approve their measures. This is true all over the Continent, not one Government apparently regarding a free Press as a possible support.
