Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1864-11-16

hnf faht au0 the Ftstnts
As further evidence that history reproduces
itself. ~e onote the folloviss CO m ments upon the
CONDITION Of political affairs ia Lnglaud during
the close Of the LIST century and tie commence
Without any reference 70 lhs civil strife IN which
thi. nation i nov involved TIE analogy is.
however, 80 striking that il cannot fail % impress
the most casual observer Says the writer to
whom pc refer: Next in importsnee 70 per
sonsl freedom y immunity from suspicious and
jealous observations Men may be siihou, any
restraint upon their liberty; hey may pass 90 snd
fro a. pleasure: but IL their steps are
tracked by spies and iniormers, their
words noted down for elimination. their zssoci
ates watched "a conspirators,-wh shall say that
they are free1 Nothing Is more revolving 20
EngIishmsn than the espionage which form. part
Of the administration system OF continental des-
poti-ms. IL haunts men like an evil genius,
ehills their gsietv. restraus their w.t. casts
shadow over their friendships. and Dlights their
domestic hearth The freedom Of country
may be measured By its immunity from this bale
ful agency Rulers who dis'rust their Own peo
pie must govern in q spirit Of absouteism; and
suspected subjects will ever be sensible Of their
own wrongs.
"Our osn country men have been comparatively
free from this hateful Interference with their NOR
al freedom. Yet ~e NAV find many traces of
system repuenant to the liberal policy of our
Laws. In i764 We see spies following WILKES ev
eryshere. logging his steps like shadows. and
reporting every movement of himself and bis
friends TO the Secretaries OF State. Nothing was
too insignificant, for the curiosity of these exalted
magistrates Every visit he paid or received
throughout tie day was noted; the persons he
CHANGED to encounter on the streets were not
overlooked: u vas known where be dined or
went to church. and at what hour be returned
home ~ night
In the State trials (Englsnd) Of 1894. We dis
cover spies aud infnrmers in the witness box. who
had been active members Of political societies,
sh ,ring their councils and encouraging, if not
prompting their criminal extravaganza. And
throug bout that period Of dread aad suspicion.
society was everywhere infestei with espionage.
Again in 1917 government spies were deepl,
comyr.msed la the turbulence AMI sedition OF
that period. CAsrLE. spy OF infamous charac-
ter. having uttered the most seditious language
aud ncitei The people to arm. proved 10 the Wit
ness-boX the very crimes he had himself prompt
Ell aud encouraged Another spy. named OF
VAR proceeded into the disturbed districts. in III.
character of a London delegate. and remlined
E.. fho tol. al 10
everywhere instgatng them to rise and arm. Ia
encouraged them with hopes chat. in tho event o
rising they would be assisted by hundred
and 6ty thousand men IN the metropolis; snc
thru>ring himself into their society he concealsc
the cr.it of - spy under the disguise of traitor
Gus conspir.tor Before he undertook thi:
shameful mission he wss in communication
with the Ministers. and throughout hi:
mischievrus progress corresponding with the
government or IT. agents There IS little doub
this OLIVER lid m IRE disturb the public peace
bv hi m,lign influence. than To protect il b,
tim-Iy information To the government. The
agent wss mischlevous. and lis principals coul.
no, wholly escape the blame of his msdeeds To
the severity % oppressive measures aud vigo
rous administration Of the law. was added tht
reprosrh of a secret alliance between the Execu
utive and wretch Who had At once bought and
betrayed his victims
The relations between the government and IL
informers are of extreme deicscy. Not to prof
by timely information were crime. but TO re
tain IN government pay. and to reward spies anC
iniurmers who cOnsOu With conspirstors as then
sworn sccompces. AMI encourage while
they betray them in their crimes is
practice for which no plea can h
offered No government. indeed. can b,
supposed to have expressly instructed its spies te
instigste the preparation of crimes; but to bs
unsuspected. every spy must be jealous in thu
cause which he pretends To have espoused; stS
his zeal in a criminal enterprise ia direct en-
couragement of crime. So odous IL and shoul,
be) the character of spy Tor uformer) that hi
ignominy is shared by his employers. sgains
whom the public feeling has nev er failed TO pro
nouuce itself. in proportion to the iniamy OF th'
agent aud the completely of those whom b.
served"