Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1861-08-24
Coercing Public Opinion.

Coercing Public Opinion.
The Neao York Day Book says, when
the war first broke out, the great offence
of such newspapers as did not believe that
war was the way to restore the Union con-
sisted in not having the American flag dis
played at any or all times. OF course
this was only an excuse, the real cause
being that these journals presumed to have
opinions not in harmony with those of the
Administration. But the papers referred
to had their opinions before Mr.. Lincoln
came into power, and had expressed item
as frccmen are supposed to have the right
to do. We're they 10 repudiatc them or
pretend to do so, (for it would be all
pretence) simply because Mr.. Lincoln had
assumed an opposite policy? This journal
might have done, as some others in this
city have-gone to advocating sentiments
that no one believes them sincere in, but
it would have lost not only its own self
respect, but the respect of all right-minded
people. Just now our paper is assailcd,
and people who subscribe to it are threat.
ened all over the country, and for what (!
Why, for opinions sake, nothing else,
under heaven, that we can see. We de
sire to see this Union of States preserved
and maintained to the latest posterity.
The man who insinuates that we desire
disunion is a base calumniator and falsiier.
Now, we believe that peace will more
surely tend to this end than war. That
is ou. opinion.
We will grant, for the sake of argument,
that. the Republicans love the Union as
well as We do, though we know that they
have sneered at the Union and at us as
"Union savers" for years. But let that
pass. We will put them down as sincere.
Their opinion is that war will restore the
Union. Ours is the exact reverse. Both
parties desire the same end, bit SIMPLY
differ IN opinion as 10 the means 10 accom-.
plish IL. Does difference of opinion
constitute treason? Are we to be perse.
cuted and denounced because we have
such opinions? Well, that will not alter
our views, A mans opinions are beyond
his control, He can't think that right
which his conscience tells him is wrong, and
all the governments in the world are not
able to coercc the opinions of men. That
has been tried ehectually, and has always
had just the contrary effect.
We see efforts all over the country to
interfere with the freedom of the press, and
yet We are free to say that no animadver.
sions on the present war that we have yet
seen are so severe as those bestowed on the
war of 1912 by the federal press of that
day even the Commercial AlvertiSer Of
this city, now a fierce war journal, was
then a strong sympathizer with the British
In their efforts TO put down all opposition
the war party scruplc at nothing. Here
is some tall lying, for instance, about TuE
DAY-BooK from Michigan journal:
i 1t, (THE DAY-BooK, y with a large por,
ton of its followers, openly declared that
Lincoln's election was to be preferred over
that of Douglas, and used the very means
that they knew would accomplish that
object, and as soon as it was ascertained
} that Lincoln was elected, set up q how
over the election of an Abolition President
and advised the Southern States not tc
submit to his administration and wher
war was inaugurated by the attack OF
Fort Sumter, it came out openly in sup
port of the rebellion, and has continued Sc
to do.
Now, it seems to us fairly impossible t,
! crowd more falsehood into an equal space
Instead of declaring the election of Lin
coin preferable TO that Of Mr., Douglas
we supported and voted the Union tickc
in this State with all our influence. W
u never advised the southern States not t
. submit to Lincoln'S administration" no