Weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1858-1865, 1864-11-23
A true copy:
OLIVER MATTHEWS, Capt. A. A. G.

TIE POWER OF FREE PREss-" Give me but
the liberty Of the Press said Sheridan in the Brit
ish House Of Commons in 1910, "Gve me but the
liberty of the Press, and will give to the Minister
venal House of Peefs-I will give him a corrupt
and serre House of Commons-I will give him the
full swing of patronage and ofice-I will give him
the whole host of ministerial i,auence-l will give
him all the power that place can confer upon him
to buy up submission and oyerawe resistance; and
yet armed with the liberty of the Press will go
forth undismayed TO meet him | will attack with
that mightier engine the mighty fabric he has
raised; l 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
a free Press cannot co-exist in the same country
The free Press will either overthrow the Govern
ment ~ the Government will put down the free
Press. We had never believed that in day,
attempt would be made to put down the liberty of
the Press until we saw 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
and inevitable precursor-the flash before the clap
the rattle Of the serpent before his deadly spring.
The suppression of the free press means the estab
lisbment of despotism. Charles X. tried it pre-
minarily to his attempt at despotism in 1880, and
failed. Louis Philippe indicated his disposition to
overthrow the nOertleS OF MS country Oy attemptS
upon the press, and he, too, failed. Louis Napoleon
suppressed the free press before he suppressed lb
erty. 1t is the preraonitory 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 81.
fenced before liberty can be surprised Our appre-
tensions may not be just but this is sign, and a
most fearful one
1.-THE press, when Free is such tremendous en-
CINE in the hands of those who love liberty, that the
first step Of every aspirant 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
an ensaved press to represent each such enterprise
as inspired by the lotiest patriotism and the most
consummate wisdom, before..we shall have, not the
present enlightened and patriotic Senate, but ve-
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
servle successor? 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 struggle
| -RichmOnd Wig.