Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-11-08
pEPARTuRES-
The warning of History y.---Extracts
from Allison nd Gibbon.

American citizens cannot too seriously re-
fleet upon the nature of present events, or too
industriously study past history in connection
with them. The democratic fathers have i'm
pressed upon the people the necessity OF con-
slant jealousy and watchfulness in the protec-
ton of American liberty. Such caution can
do no harm to the cause of the people; 1t may
do vast good.
We quote a paragraph from Allison's His
tory OF Europe, vol. II. D. "A. After giving a
graphic account OF the dazzling objects placed
before the people at the place carousal, and
elsewhere, to distract them from other objects,
the historian remarks:
"These measures were all steps, and not
unimportant ones, 10 the re-establishment of
monarchical authority, but they were the pre-
lude only to more important changes. In
December, 1899, an arrdt was published,
which on the preamble, that a part of the
journals printed at Paris are instruments in
the hands of the enemies of the Republic,
that it is the first duty of the Government TO
watch over It's security decreed that the
Minister of Police should not suffer to be
printed, during the continuance of the war,
any journals but the following Then followed
a list of thirteen journals, thus invested with
the monopoly of Paris, and from it were only
excluded those exclusively devoted to science,
the arts, literature, commerce or advertise
ments 1t was decreed by a separate article,
that amy journal among among those retained
which inserted anything contrary to the soye-
reignty of the people. should be Immediately
suppressed This clause, inserted TO blind
the people to the real tendency of the meas
ure. received in the sequel, as was foreseen at
III tho info atatsn nd
was applied, contrary to its obvious meaning,
to sanction OF all journals contrary to the
Consular Government. Thus early COM
menced the system OF Napoleon for the coer-
cion of the press; a system which received
during the remainder OF his reign such ample
development. in which Madame de Stael just
ly remarks, converted that great engine, gen.
orally considered as the palladium of liberty,
into the most powerful instrument of bondage
by perpetually exhibiting series of false and
delusive pictures TO the human mind, and ex
cluding all others from the view"
In drawing an analogy between the acts of
oppression and tyranny under the Roman
Empire by Constantine and others. and the
efforts that paved the way for the First Con-
sulate to the imperial purple, Gibbon, the
historian, saws
The police insensibly assumed the license
of reporting whatever they could observe of
the conduct. either Of magistrates or private
citizens, and were soon considered as the eyes
of the monarch and the scourge of the peo-
pie Under the warm influence OF feeble
reign, they multiplied to the incredible num-
Der of 10000; disdained the mild. though
frequent admonition of the laws, and exer-
cised in the profitable management of the
posts, a rapacious and insolent oppression
These official spies who corresponded with the
palace, were encouraged with reward and
favor, anxiously TO watch the progress OF ev-
cry reasonable design. from the faint and
latent symptoms of dsafection. to the active
preparation of open revolt. Their careless
or criminal violation Of truth and Justice, was
covered by the consecrated mask Of zeal, and
they might securely aim their poisoned arrows
at the breast either of the innocent or the
guilty, who had provoked their resentment or
refused to purchase their silence. A faithful
subject of Syria, perhaps, or Britain. was ex-
posed 10 the danger. or, at least, to the dread
OF being dragged in chains to the Court of
Milan, or Constantinople. to defend his life
and fortune against the malicious charges of
the privileged informers." This might pass
for description of the Conservative Senate
and police of Napoleon See Gibbon, chap.
xvii.