The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1865-07-25

supporters of such journals as the Bos-
ton, Courier. And who raised and kept
alive the lawless mob spirit?a These
Journals, by their constant artful appeals
to the passions and prejudices OF their
readers; their assertions that to speak
or write against slavery was wrong ana
mischievous and disreputable.
OF course, we do not mean, by thus
showing up the errors OF the Courier
and its brethren, to justify the mistake
of the e New York lawyer" which 1t
quotes. But if they only who are with
out sin in this matter may cast the first
stone, the pro-slayery journals must
stand forever with their fingers on their
/, mouths. They have learned now that
persecution for opinions sake is wrong
las well as uncomfortable to the perse-
cuted-and we are glad to hear free
speech and free discussion praised by
those who formerly so vigorously op-
posed the exercise of these rights. We
trust they will be faithful to this princi-
pie, for upon 1t rests as we have con-
stantly held, all possibility of free gov
eminent. "a
In the Southern States it is notorious
that for years neither speech nor the
press was free; and no one will deny
that this shutting out of free thought
alone gave the slaveholding conspirators
the power to mislead the people into re-
bellion. To attempt to expose their
measurements was to encounter wounds
and death; Lynch law was the answer
they gave to all who tried to show the
people the other side; and thus, by sti-
hing voice and press, the conspirators
made themselves masters of the South.
HencefOrth we must have free speech
a n II n II
and while We maintain these rights.
while every man may freely speak hiss
mind to whoever viii iisteH, nS matTe Ter
what his political principles may be, the
country will never swerve far or long
from the right. With the help of free.
fair and full discussion, any evil, no mat
ter how great, will cure itself in a free
State and amongst a law-abiding people.
To the Courier, and other Journals OF
the same political views, we offer one
ggestion-they should take for their
motto henceforth, "Let us reason to-
gether." Hitherto they have too much
acted as though their text was, "Let us
abuse each other." To call names, to
ascribe mean or wicked motives, to ex-
cite prejudice amongst the ignorant
against the defenders of principle or
cause, may secure temporary success;
SeA" ~ 10 q PidCtlCC iui Va CNlA3 anu
sure some day to bring defeat on
those who follow it. A certain
class of journalists and demagogues
succeedef for time in making the
name " abolitionist" odous, but, what
ever they may have fancied, they did
not ,prolong, for even day, the life of
} siavery---ssas just now, they are busy
liking upon those who think differently
from them on certain subjects, the awful
and terror-inspiring name Of radicals"
and they speak of the radical revolt"
and try to get up a popular prejudice
against certain politicians. But what
will they gain by it? They may make
their opponents names hateful to the
ignorant and unthinking; but if those
opponents are right their principles will
triumph against all odium; and if they
are wrong there is far better way to
defeat them than calling names, and
that is to show up their errors. Every
appeal to prejudice is debasing, and
really weakens the cause of those who,
for lack of argument, make use of 80
dull and foolish a weapon.--Ne,o York
Euening Post.