The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1853-06-01
From the Christian Observer.
Tyranny in Europe.

The war now ragged by the despots of
continental Europe, is conflict with their
own subjects. 1t is an exterminat atng war
against the liberty of speech and ofthought,
and the right of hearing and defence be-
fore the tribunals of justice; when accus-
ed. On every arrival from Europe, we
have fresh reports OF arrests, coniscations,
fines, banishments and executions for
political or religious opinions--indicating
the progress OF this atrocious warfare. II
lis war against civilization, against
thought and intelligence, against the most
sacred rights Of our nature, more afro
cious than the horrors of the slave trade.
1t is more enormous in crime than the
barbarities OF those who assumed the reigns
of the government in the dark ages. No
wonder that there are instructions and
murders in every form. No wonder that
the people are desperate and reckless, and
that they sally forth armed with stilettos.
prepared to assassinate any and every
menial of official authority. A cores
pondent Of the London Morning Chroni-
Gle gives the following notice of this cru
sade in Italy:
1.-THE accounts we receive from Italy
tells us daily Of fresh seventies, fresh SEN
tences, fresh executions. The military
tribunal, sitting at Mantua, which conducts
the prosecutions of upwards of two hun
dred prejudged Individuals, is sending
them away by tens andtwenties at time,
either TO death or to ponderous chains.
Everything connected with these processes
is enveloped in mystery, save the execu-
toner and the gallows. The accused are
not allowed counsel for their defence; they
are not allowed public trial; they are
not brought face to face with the SPIES
accusers, and Witnesses. Men belonging
to the upper and most respectable clas-
ses Of society, are judged, condemned,
slaughtered, loaded with chains, and what
would appear incredible, their judges, in
stating the reasons for their sentence, are
compelled to Go ample justice to the NOR
ality Of many among them.
Il In his conclusion the writer combats the
assertion that the Italians are neither to be
4 satisfied nor qoverned-that their revolu-
tons corrupt the masses, that neither peace
nor truce are compatible with such ele-
ments, and that the only practicable gov
/ ernment is that Of the state OF siege, OF
the police, and of the executioner. From
; 1915 to the present time, the Italian gov
ernments, and Austria among them, have
had these populations in hand. For thir-
Il ty.sight years they have been the sole ar,
;. biters of their destiny, at perfect liberty to
/ carry out the system they may have thought
: the best. May We not have right to ask
: of them, What have you done with these
people? To what has your political sys'
tenn brought you but to dead-lack-to
t state of society in which the violence o
D governors is met by the violence of the
Il governed. The gallows on the one side
1T and the stiletto on the other! May no
$ such results as these be called the disso
: luton of all society--we do not say Of al
0 Christian, but Of all civil society-the re
a turn to something more immoral and more
n direful than the savage state itselfs