Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1863-05-20

Free Spccch-PcrSOnaI Liberty.
All times of excitement are fruitful of IT.
Irregularities which honest impulses approve
instinctively, while sound principles condemn
them. 1t is impossible to restrain a sense of
lively satisfaction whenever grossly obnoxious
persons-malicious offenders against the pub
lie conscience-meet with short shritt and
quick punishment. In many of the northern
states, the provocations to summary treat
ment of disguised rebels has been from the
beginning peculiarly strong. The most vi
cious of journalists and politicians have ex-
hausted every resource of low cunning to ex-
asperate public opinion-already as sensitive
as it could bear-by attacking the cause that
absorbed all its thoughts, and inspired all its
prayers. Never before known as advocates
of that large liberty of thought and speech
which becomes people confident of their
power, they have nevertheless taken advan-
tage Of the sentiment that has grown up in its
favor in spite of them, and have lost no OPP
portunity to enrage the sensitive loyalty
which has been blazing all around them.
The result has been-inasmuch as our laws
wisely recognize the largest liberty of thought
and speech when it does not directly affect
public safety-that the offenders have some
times been brought to grief by summary and
violent means. In ordinary and quiet times
there could be no excuse for it. In these ex-
traordinary times there is only the excuse OF
passion quickened by the danger which real
enemies have brought to all our doors.
The establishment of military law has now
taken away every occasion for irregularity.
1t is to be held accountable for the manner in
which justice is measured to offenders against
the peace and safety of the country. Vicious
and disloyal people who have compelled this
last appeal have no right to complain of its
hardships. They made the necessity which
has come home to them with so rigid justice.
The instance can scarcely be shown in which
traitors and SeditionistS, whose liberty has
been restrained have not provoked and mer-
tied all the punishment that has been imposed
on them There will be no illuminated mar
tyrologes opened for them now onthe score of
persecution, nor will they be likely to achieve
present favor or desirable fame by the display
of the dishonorable stripes they are compelled
to wear. The only people who have the right
to criticise the operations of military law are
those who observe and obey it,-good men
and loyal citizens who are interested in hav-
ing justice administered where it is due, and
at the same time upon sound and permanent
principles.
There is no doubt, then, that it is wiser and
better for communities to bear with men who
differ from the majority-however offensive
in the expression of their nom conformity
long THAR affAnea is ip,i.ad to thu
if they are justly obnoxious, should quicken
public opinion to livelier effort and more ear
nest thought-to vindicate itself and justify its
superiority by the larger reasons and the
more luminous truths it can marshal to its
aid 1t may be that offenders would not thus
be justly punished. But it is more necessary
that the foundations of free and enlightened
society should not be moved, than that a score
or hundred noisy mouthers of sedition
should be sent to the Tortugas or locked up
in Fort Warren. You dignity the scoun-
drels whom you mean to degrade when you
discipline them in such a cause. You put
in peril the weightiest argument you can
have, when in the revolution of events 9TH
er opinions than your own come uppermost.
While Northumberland and the Protestants
were prosecuting the Catholics under the
protectorate, Gardiner and Reginald Pole
were fattening for bloody revenge under
Queen Mary's favor.
If the theory of freedom of thought and
Speech for which all liberal and enlightened
people have contended for generations-the
central idea of all the grand struggles of mod
ern history-cannot bear test like this, it is
sheer frailty and had better be discarded
Fortunately for us, it happens that now truth
and loyalty and all good sentiments are in the
ascendant. Legions of angels fight upon their
side But it often happens that the right is in
MISUNDERSTANDING for long periods the bur
den of merciless oppression and stone idola-
tries-exposedto inquisition and the fierce trial
of rack and fire. In such times, when the
bravest souls are tried, absolute freedom of
thought and speech is truths only weapon of
power. 1t is OF true and subtle temper. It's
madness and folly to throw it away