France every one had been, was, or was about to be a journalist,
and that every politician wrote for the papers. The journalistic
activities of Napoleon have recently been made the subject of an exhaustive study. The interest in the press shown by Napoleon I and by Napoleon III seems indeed but the culmination in imperial circles of the desire of every Frenchman to have his own news
paper . " M . Thiers prompted a dozen articles, & c. every day," is Reinach 's comment, and he notes that Louis Napoleon never ceased during his entire reign writing articles and brochures. In
1895, from thirty -five to forty journalists had seats in the Cham ber of Deputies, and a smaller but still important number in the
Senate . The professional politician wishes an organ and the professional journalist wishes a seat in the legislative body to
enforce his opinions and to aid in his advancement.8 In England, gifts have been made to newspaper owners and editors of peerages and of other lower orders of nobility . In the distribution of birthday honors a goodly proportion has fallen to the lot of provincial and colonial editors. But this connection has not escaped criticism . Cobden , in 1857, was much concerned
over " the illicit and secret connection between the Government and the Press,” 10 and Peel, aware of similar criticism , once wrote Edward Sterling thanking him for avoiding " every species of intercourse which could throw a suspicion upon the motives by which he was actuated.” 11 Lord Palmerston 's dinner parties, where Delane was a frequent guest, did not escape the eagle eye and caustic pen of John Bright. Canning had earlier much
resented Jerdan 's request for office for his son and through his secretary wrote that it was absolutely necessary that he should
have it in his power to deny in the House of Commons that the influence of the Government had been employed to induce the J. Reinach , “ Parisian Newspapers,” Nineteenth Century, September, 1882, 12 : 347 – 360 .
76 . Périvier, Napoléon Journaliste . - L . Salomon,Geschichte des deutschen Zeitungswesen , gives much information in regard to Napoleon 's relation with the German press, especially in “ Die Napoleonische Zeit," II, 83- 264.
8 A Resident in Paris, “ French Journalism ," National Review , September , 1895, 26 : 74 -82. 9 Henry Bate , created a baronet in 1813, is said to have been the first
journalist to receive a title. - Dictionary of National Biography, 16: 102. 10 J. A . Hobson , Richard Cobden the International Man, p . 213 .
11 T . Carlyle, The Life of John Sterling, pp. 306– 307 (Boston ed ., 1851).
