Criticism of press censorship

On June 23, 1847, the Courrier du Grand-Duché de Luxembourg publishes an ironic article about the restrictions on press freedom. The newspaper describes the freedom of the press as seemingly unlimited, as long as it remains silent on "a thousand things" and portrays the government and the ruling powers solely in "the most beautiful crimson." The article highlights the increasing tensions between conservative government officials and liberal forces demanding greater political participation and personal freedoms. The publication prompts discussions about the relationship between state control and the role of the press as an independent voice of the public. With this criticism, the newspaper positions itself as a proponent of the demand for freer expression and reveals the conflict over the limits of monarchical power. A few months later, in November 1847, a royal-grand ducal decree is issued declaring the monarch William II as the supreme censor.