The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1864-08-10
Preaching rs. Practice.


The recent Democratic State Convention in
Kentucky, among other resolutions, passed
the following:
Resolved. That free press free speech, free ballot.
feelom Of religion, and the right Of habeas corpus to
protect the personal liberty every citizen the
sentias Of free government, and free people will main
tain them at all hazards.
This sounds well, falls euphoniously upon
the ear, and looks pretty on paper. 1t is very
good preaching, but how have the practices
OF the Democratic party Tailed with such an
enunciation? How have the Democrats prac-
tically indicated the freedom of the press
Let the frequent mobbing of anti-slavery
newspapers, by Democratic mobs, answer
this question. Even in Kentucky the en-
dorsers Of this very resolution and the blatant
advocates of free press, not many years
since, destroyed the establishment of Cassius
IL. Clay because he freely discussed the poll
cy Of negro slavery, and threw the press of
WIN. Shreve Bailey into the Ohio and attempt
ed the murder Of Its proprietor, because be
advocated universal freedom.
Their sacred regard for free speech has
been shown In breaking up anti slavery meet
ings, ia rotten-egging anti-slavery lecturers,
In lynching antislavery men North as well
as South; and within the last three years this
sans sacred regard for free speech was vindi-
Gated In the model city of Boston-which en-
joys the full blaze of illumination of the Cou-
rier Of that metropolis-by Democratic mob
taking forcible possession of public hall hir-
ed by gentlemen for peaceful, anti-slavery
purposes, and with orgies over which con-
clave Of devils might exult and laugh and lash
their tails. Such respectable mob denied
the rightful possessors of the place the rights
for which they had paid their money, and in
the enjoyment Of which they should have
been protected against all the brutality of the
city. More than this: the same persistent de-
tenders Of free speech, within the last few
years have converted the Sabbath into day
of riot and disorder almost beneath the shad-
ow of Bunker Hill monument, following Wen
dell Phillips from the lecture room TO his
house with yells and demonstrations worthy
the abode of demons.
Going back to better day ia Democratic
history than the last few years of treason
have afforded, we find some manifestations
under Democratic auspices not very consistent
with the Kentucky resolution above quoted.
For example: long years ago Gov. Marcy, the
Democratic Governor OF New York, recon-
mended in message to the legislature of the
State, that the discussion of the slavery ques-
ton should be suppressed by special law.
1t Is also IN evidence that Amos Kendall,
noted as leading Democratic politician, and
during the first term the power behind the
throne" In the administration of Gen. Jack
son, and afterwards Post Master General.
while holding the latter office authorized and
directed the search of the United States mails
by deputy post-msstsrs, and the removal
therefrom aud destruction OF all letters and
papers containing alluslon to the peculiar in.
stitution.
These things were not done In a corner, and
they are not only historically true, but it is
equally true that the Democratic party of
New York approved the act of their Govern
or, while the Democratic party of the nation
endorsed and sanctioned the unconstitutional
riding of the mails by the authority and sane
tion of the Post Master General.
On the question of habeas corpus aud per-
sonal liberty we have historical Renaissance
which may be of interest to those of our read
ers who are not thoroughly posted in such
matters. One Andrew Jackson-in bis day
thought to be tolerably good Democrat-in
the latter part Of the year 1914, not when the
Government was threatened by armed trail
tors, and the existence of the nation hanging