Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1864-11-18
(Signed
A true copy:
OLIVER MATTHEWS, Capt. A. A. G.
LEW. WALLACE,
Maj. Gen. Commanding.

THE Power OF FREE PREss.-" Give me but
the liberty of the Press" said Sheridan in the Brit
ish House Of Commons in 1910, Give me but the
liberty rfthe Press and will give TO the Minister
a venal House of Peers-I will give him corrupt
and servile House Of Commons-I will give him the
full swing OF patronage and ofice-I will give him
, the whole host of ministerial influence will give
him all the power that place confer upon him
to buy up submission and overawe resistance; and
yet armed with the liberty of the Press, ] will go
forth undsmayed to meet him; will attack with
that mightier engine the mighty fabric he has
raised will shake down corruption from its
height and bury it beneath the ruins it was meant
to shelter"
1t is conceded we believe, that Despotism and
free Press cannot CO exist in the safe Country
The free Press will either overthrow the Govern
; ment or the Government will put down the free
Press. We hadAeyer believed that, in our day, an
attempt would be made to put down the liberty of
the Press until we it. The attempt seems to
US sadly OMNIBUS because we have observed that
every attempt to establish deSpotism during this
century has been preceded by the suppression of
the freedom of the Press. This is the inVariable
and inevitable precursor-the fash before the clap
the rattle of the serpent before his deadly spring
The suppression O. the free press means the esab-
lisbment Of dcspotism. Charles Y tried it pre-
liminarily to his attempt at deSpotsm in 1880, and
failed. Louis Philippe Indicated his disposition to
overthrow the liberties of bis country by attempts
upon the press, ana ne, TOO, Ialleu LOUIS apoeOn
suppressed the free press before he suppressed lib
erty. 1t is the premOntory symptom always, and
it always gives warning of the same thing The
picket guard must be surprised before the sleeping
army can be slaughtered The press must be ST.
fenced before liberty be surprised. Our appre-
tensions may not be just but this is sign, and
most fearful one.
Ifthe press, when free, is such tremendous en-
CINE in the hands of those who love liberty that the
first step of every asprant who seeks to overthrow
the existing institutions of his country is to destroy
its freedom, what must it be in the hands of such
aspirant himself? How long will it be, when there
is no free press to give the people warning of each
new enterprise against liberty, and when there is
ensaved press to represent each such enterprise
inspired by the loftiest patriotism and the most
consummate wisdom, before, we shall have, not the
present eng htened and patriotic Senate, but We
nal, self seeking body in its place How long be-
fore the present highly honorable body of Repre-
sentatives shall be substituted by a corrupt and
servile succcSsorH How long before the enormous
patronage already enjoyed by the Chief Magistrate
shall be let loose in full swing to purchase silence
and overawe resistance? How long will it be be-
fore liberty shall be shaken from its foundation be.
meath the play of this terrific engine and bury in
its ruins all the fair fruits of four years strdg gey
+, -RichmORd Wing.