The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1855-02-22
WAR ON THE FREEDOM OF THE PREss-OHIo
COLUMBIAN

The New Party-we speak not of the too
many honest people who, for time, have been
drawn into its ranks-seems to have as great a
horror of Free Press, as old Governor Berke-
ley, of Virginia, who thought it corrupted the
morals of the People, and stirred them up to Sc
dtion. The freedom-loving House of Haps-
burgh, and the great Northern Champion of
Christianity, Nicholas, the idol Of so many of
our distinguished Democrats, are of the same
way of thinking. The Slave Power, we know,
sympathizes with them on this point, and, If
stopping the paper will not answer, would like
to stop the wind of the man editing it. The
New Order, perhaps not quite so austere, is
almost as determined. 1t stops "the dimes"
and down goes the paper. Say nothing, or
support us, or -
Our honest friend of the Ohio Columbian,
supposing himself still in the ranks of Party
that adopted the Pittsburgh platform of 1852,
and venturing to question the policy and JUS
tce of the New Order, falls under sentence
Anti-Slavery men write to him, "stop the pa
per-" Not inundated or convinced by this
potent mode of augmentation, the editor per-
sists in his heresy:
awe came to Ohio with the hope that the
people of the State would uphold us in the
effort to establish permanently an Independent
Democratic newspaper at the seat of Govern
ment, and we still hope our efforts will not be
without success but we will not be secretly
struck down without exposing the efforts made
use OF to crush us. 1t may not be necessary for
the cause OF Freedom to have defender at
Columbus; but it Is necessary, that while we
continue to publish the Columbian, it shall
speak the Truth; and if Know Nothingism
cannot endure this, we cannot help 1t. For
who knows not says John Milton, that noble
old Reformer, who in his day suffered in its
defence, that Truth is strong, next to the
Almighty; she needs no policies, no stratagems,
nor licensings, to make her victorious. And
though all the winds Of doctrine were let loose
to play upon the earth, so truth be in the field,
we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting,
to misdoubt her strength. Let truth and false
hood grapple; who ever knew Truth put to the
worse in fair and open encounter
Here, then, we plant ourselves; on this
rock we mean to stand; and come veal or woe,
we shall tread undismayed the path in which
Truth leads the way.'
How can you be so indiscreet, friend Gange.
wer? Why will you pipe against the hurri-
cane? Why not I" lie low and keep dark t"
till the storm be past? Why not let the thing
alone, till it cures itself? Why so much ado
about nothing? Have you not heard what a
tremendous engine the Order is against Sla
very? You are bound of course, when you do
speak, to speak the truth, but you need, not al
ways be talking out. There are times and
seasons, and the time to proclaim great
Truth, is, when it hits nobody.
AS to strategy, it does seem noble in old
John Milton, when he says that "Truth needs
no policies, no stratagems, no licensings, to
make her victorious" But recollect, we live in
an age of light and knowledge, when the school
master is abroad, and the march of mind is