Indiana State sentinel. (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-03-31
The Lecture of wendell Philips
Disgraceful Mob Violence.

Wendell Phillips's lecture last evening, at the
Opera house, was broken up by the acts of dis
orderly persons, and mob violence prevented
him being heard. This we deeply regret, and we
severely condemn the ccndnct of those who have
thus outraged the principle of liberty of speech,
and inflicted stain upon the reputation of our
city for adhesion to law. order and general de-
corum. 1t is unnecessary for us to state how
radically we disagree with Mr. Phillips in his
views and political poicy-how greatly we think
he has erred; but if that disagreement was mil
Ionic greater than it is, we should still insist
that he had a right to be heard by those who chose
to attend his lecture. 49,.
Intolerance of opinion and sentiment is one Of
the greatest evils of our times, and threatens the
most serious results. The press and our public
hall are open to those who desire to answer Mr..
Phillips-to refute his logic and answer his as
sertiOns He should be answered by fair discus
sion, and not as be was last night by rotten eggs
and stones. While we conduct press or have
a vote or a voice, it will be given for the great
est latitude of free speech, for without tive shall
have meanest despotism.
| 1t is no excuse that some of Mr.. Phillips
| friends have been intolerant-have been desirous
of mobbing those who differed in sentiment with
them--no such retaliation is justified by reason
or sound policy. Democrats, especially, have no
right. and they sin against their political friends
erty of speech. We repudiate. with the strong
est feeling of disgust and detestatiop, all mob
violence, no matter against whom it is directed,
or upon what pretext it is made.
So says the Cincinnati Enquirer of Tuesday
We endorse most fully the sentiments it utters.
In so doing we do not intend to express any sym
pathy whatever with the abolition or dsunion
sentiments of Mr.. PHILLIPS We simply intend
to advocate, as We have ever done, freedom of
speech and freedom of the press, holding those
who abuse the privilege to a strict legal account
biIity for the offense. If Mr.. PHILLIPS utters
reasonable sentiments, and we think him equally
guilty with the most guilty of those who have
been confined in either Fort Warren or Fort La
fayette, let him be dealt with as they have been
Mob violence is no answer to logic, to truth, to
reason. 1t may overawe those who are its sub
jects but it will not change honest convictions or
well considered opinions. The argument of a
mob il the argument of despot. 1t is the foe
of all that is valuable in republican institutions
liberty of conscience, of opinion, of speech, OF
the press. We believe that PHILLIPS and bis
coadjutors have stirred up the difficulties which
have eliminated in the civil war now upon us
While we attempting to punish the secession
traitors who have the manliness to fight for thei1
opinions, let net forget to deal with those equal
ly dangerous disunionsts OF the North who are
seeking TO undermine the Constitution and the
Union to carry out their Abolition schemes. Mob
violence to suppress the freedom of the press and
of speech generally reacts A few years ago
DoUGLAs was refused hearing in Chicago, and
his road home from Washington was lighted with
his burning effigies. Soon after he had hearing
in defense of the very principles that mob
thought they could overcome by violence, and he
triumphed most signally in an appeal to the
second sober thought of the people," which re-
suited in his re election to the Senate. DoUGLAs
over and over again declared he did not and
would not abate an ota of his political principles
and the very men who in 1854 were ready to
stone him unto death now canonze his memory
Said JEsFERsoS: Error can be tolerated if truth
is left free to combat it, If WENDELL PHf1-
LIPS is guilty of any covert act'' against the
Government, let him be arraigned and punished
therefor according to the laws of the land, anc
if his arguments cannot be overcome by argu
ment, they should stand.