The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1861-08-08
For tbs rELreRApu.
For ths TRLEGRAPK.
Vino are Morally Chilly of Encouraging
Treason
Mcssrs. Editors


VINO are Morally Guilty of Encouraging
TroasOne
Mcssrs. Editors
1t is fact apparent to all that there are
few rebel newspapers in the North, and among
them is the Democrat published in this city. No
one who reads that paper can fail to perceive
that it is using the little influence it possesses
to dispafage and bring into contempt all loyal
citizens and the Government, and the main
tainance of the Union. 1t seeks opportunities
to defend the rebels and their leaders, and gives
unmstakeable evidence of satisfaction at the
revcrses of our army We will not now discuss
the natural or political right of the Democrat,
or any other paper at the North to pursue such
a course there is another aspect of the case
which we design to present-that is the moral
one.
Secession is either right or wrong vast
majority of our citizens profess to hold that
those now engaged in the attempt to break up
the Union are wickedly and UNANIMOUSLY in the
wong that secession is political and moral
heresy which admits Of pallialion. If, then,
|
ing implicated in it who directly or indirectly
assist in giving it influence. BY every rule of
moral ethics, the man who knowingly gives
i" aid and comfort to wrong is guilty of par
ticipancy in it. Who sustain and keep the
breath of life in the Democrat 1t is stated on
what may be deemed good authority that the
chief and most substantial support that paper re-
ceives comes from Republicans, and those who
profess to regard secession as an infamous trea-
son were it not for these the paper would
cease to exist BY what rule of moral action
do such persons excuse themselves? Tehy
know full well that that paper is weekly difus-
ing treason-turning the heads of weak mind
ed people and creating disloyalty to the govern
ment. Very many of the supporters of that pa
per profess to be governed by moral principles
not few will not patronize grog shop, be
cause by so doing they would countenance and
encourage the sin of intemperance. Many OF
them are scrupoulous not to countenance any
institutions among us, calculated to difuse vi
cious sentiments or injure public morals. But
these men can, seemingly without scruple, sup
, people from the government Government
, which our volunteer soldiery are now enduring
hardships and peris on the battle field, to main
tain.
The spirit of secession seeks the life, and is
ready to Undue its hands in the blood of every
volunteer who has gone from among us to fight
the battles of the Union. Are the supporters
of secession newspapers aware that by aiding
supporting and sustaining such sheets, they are
Strengthening the arm that seeks the destruc.
ton of our armies? What father will trife
with the life of a son o. wife with that of hus.
band by giving sustenance to power that seeks
his life?
But there are still other moral aspects III the
) matter which may be presented; many of the
+ subscribers Of the Democrat are protested mem
bers of christian churches they make the sue
t cess of our armies and the vanquishment of the
t enemies of the Union the subject Of prayer and
5 religious conversation. The paper of which we
speak is found evek on the tables of our profess
= ed ministers of the gospel, these men very
3 properly pray the Lord in the congregation tC
: put down secession to defeat treason and to de-
fend the Union against its enemies. There may
be consistency in this and if there be any, it is
/ due to the public mind that it be made appar
e emf. The words of st, Paul in he 2nd Chapter
f of Romans, seem to have an appropriate signi
: fication-" Thou, therefore, aohich tea-chest an
e other, tcachest thou not MyseW Thou that preach
est man shOaId not steal, d0st thou steal? ThOs
that abhorest idols, doSt thou commit sacrilege ~
S To the foregoing words Of the apostle, with
G out violence 10 the text might be added-'Thou
: that teachest secession to be wrong and trea
e son crime, dost thou encourage the abettor!
/ thereof"
1t may be said that our remarks are designed
to interfere with the circulation of particular
newspaper and is thus to abridge the freedom
of speech and the liberty of the press. Not so
: we are in favor of the largest liberty of the
press and freedom of speech consistent with the
public safety and good. But the press has NJ
such privilege as to incite rebellion and encour
age treason. If man aids and abets the de
struction of the life OF his fellow man, he may
be arrested according to the forms of the law
and no one complains that the freedom OF speech
has been improperly restrained or if he simply
, threatens the property of his his neighbor,
i he may be placed under legal restraint, and
+ the plea of free speech avails him nothing
. But if a newspaper press abets the destruction
of the Union and the overthrow of the best
Government tho sun ever shone upon-involv.
ing the loss Of the lives of vast numbers of fell
low beings and the waste of millions of proper
ty and the desolation of thousands OF happy
homes-it may, according to the code of some
, mems morals, not only be tolerated, but aided
and supported.
II any one should find fault with the conclu-
sons drawn from this article, we have only to
say if our facts and logic are fault, let it be
shown and the right to complain will be conce-
ded. There are limitations to the privileges OF
the press, and there are moral responsibilities
attached to those who support and sustain a
press advocating what is mischievous and Grim.
inal. five must have secession newspapers
among u.s. let them be supported by secession
lists, and let secessonists alone be responsible
for their existence. So, if Union newspapers
cannot live without support from secessionists,
let them go down. This is rule which every
Union newspaper is willing to abide by, and
with which 10 sympathizer with secession has
a right to find fault Between Union and Sc
cession there can be no fellow6hip-they are
as opposite as heaven and perdition.
, UNION
o.
Minister Harvey Vindicated.
James M. Harvey, our minister to Portugal,
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