Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1863-02-20
Our Dangerous Class. "

There rs phrase Wtlch mas an unhappy
Importance IN most of the states OF Europe
"the Dangerous Glasses In our Tree
states we have fortunate Y. known no such
monster abroS1 bat the Union has never
theless had it's dangerous class One
whose mischicvJas propensities Americans
have. to their misfortune, 10 long overlooked;
whose existence we have endured too long,
till it now threatens the national peace,
honor, and even the national life.
One Of the most delicate and important
problems of European craftsmanship has
been this: how 70 deal with the dangerous
classes, how to prevent the increase, break
the power. and render nugatory the mi>cte-
yious plots of this disturbing clement in a
population. With us, too, this problem
has been forced upon the attention OF think
crs. statesmen and people.
In Europe the most enlightened men have
conceived that the chief aim and tendency
OF all dealings with this refractory and inJa-
rious class should be. by prudent and time.
" regulations to decrease It's numbers, and
to reprcss with firm hand its slightest en-
croachments upon law and order. With us,
unfortunately, the predominant policy has
been the reverse of this; too long 1t was
thought the part of wisdom to concilatc IN
stead Of curbing,to encourage or at least toll
crate its entertainments rather than resist
and ceaselessly watch its plots; till at last
the anomalous condition prevailed, OF q
country ruled by the class and in the spirit
most inmical to its peace and liberties.
The shareholders are our dangerous class.
The existancc OF this lawless and ambitious
caste imperllei liberty and republican insti-
,,,Fi ta.lav TINT
our mistaken andufatal policy toward this
social excrescence has even, to certain ez-
tent, corrupted the sense of right and the
impartial love OF liberty in our free commu-
uities The class which 50 long ruled over
us by means of the fears il was able to in
spire in the peaccable aud industrious part
of the people, at last refused to give up the
power 1t had abused, and grown defiant by
long encouragement OF its evil passions, and
strong by the fostering care Of the nation,
ventured on rebellion. No longer permitted
to misrule our dangerous class determined to
ruin us. As the cuckoo throws out of the
nest in which it has been welcomed and fed
the youuglings of its foster parents the mo-
ment these assert their natural rights, -
this interest, which had no righttnl place
in the Union of our ioretathers bat was
merely tolerated, attempts to usurp all place
and throw overoJaed the rlghtiui heirs OF
American liberty,
The problem now before us is. how to
treat this dangerous class. Whose attitude
towards our Union, towards our Ii critics,
cur peace and our prosperity, is So openly
and boastfully hostile? 1t is upon this point
that parties are unhappily divided in
the loyal states one convinced that IN i-ar-
our repression of this dangerous class lies
our only stttty, the other strangely bent IN
peace by new concessions to thost who lave
broken the peace one believing that, for oar
US a nation. we must at once and at all haz.
ards deprive this dangerous class of the s'uca
OF its fatal power. tie other asserting that Il
is best To install this power in the supreme
place in the state.
To us, we confess, the course Of the last
mentioned party secm>if honest, thsn IN ~
mad. Il is as though in Encttnd party
should arise, demanding that II secure S7te-
ty for person and pocket tie gar,ters win
iuicst the streets of London should BE- sent L
Parliament. - lesislate tJr.the nation. Il
is as thauga in Italy party should demand
0f Victor Fmanual to cure UFiEanlag' bY
placing arms aud provisions in tae hands u
the robbers. 1t is IS though lacn shout.
hold it an injury u tie community I
take away the jimmy and skeleton kew
from a burglar caught in the act a.
though to abolish piracy the hes; way WI,
to leGalize 1t and encourage its practice -
rewards. For slavery is the 'iinuy bY
whose help these burglars have sought to ~
us ufour liberties; it Is the ling with which
these garntters assault the defenders d
Atpprfapr L. harty. l.. L. -
which these bri-ands would be if not les,
wicked yet utterly harmless. tie Armstrong
guns, these pirates might still have the viii
to rob, hut woald be p1weriess 10 injure tbs
ship Of stats.-Ifibaae