Randolph journal. [volume] (Winchester, Indiana) 1865-186?, 1867-06-06
Discussion at the south.

The deprecation OF political debate
in the late rebel States il simply silly.
Those States are 10 be organized by
equal suffrage. y large part of the
voters are newly cnfranchiScd and
were lately slaves. The old master
class can not see with patience the
sudden elevation of the slaves, which
is coincident with its own humiliation
and defeat in the field. The freedmen
can not at once have all the mOdcra-
ton and wisdom of "a highly civilized
people accustomed to Sclf-government.
But the situation is nevertheless
simple. The whole population of the
South is to be educated to political
power 10y possessing it. They are To
become accustomed as soon a. practi-
cable TO all the processes of a free popu-
lar government. They are not 10 be
arbitrarily trained or moulded or
Whitfield into shape. People can never
learn to swim until they jump into the
water. There is no political education
like political practice.
Now the first condition of political
education is perfect freedom of speech.
Every citizen is to say what he thinks,
and why he thinks it, whenever he
can get any body to hear him. If be
says it foolishly, so much the worse
for his opinion. He will make no con
vertS; he will rcpcl them. But other
people have no right to be brutal be-
cause he Is angry or eXtravagant.
They may go out of hearing, but they
must not close his mouth. If he knows
his audience to be peculiarly sensitive
or excited, a judiciouS speaker will
govern himself accordingly. But if he
be inju'licious his rights are precisely
the same, and the duty of the Govern
meut 10 protect him is imperative.
Our popular system does not suppose
every man to be wise.
The Southern States areas wholly
W tiic IL tlic ipi WI
free government a. Du Chaillu's Ash
ango Land. There has never been
any freedom of speech in that part of
the country or any liberation of differ
ing opinions upon the most vital
questions. The word liberty i'm its
simple, broad sense has been utterly
mmcaning. Free speech, and there
by u popular government, can be
established there only by Il force whose
mere presence will keep the peace.
And with such q force ut hand the
true course is To encourage men OF
every opinion to stump the whole
region and advocate their views. We
hope they may be discreet men, but
tllat we can not barsaiil for. If we
ask them not to go, in the hope that
ut some indefinite future there may
be more pacific moment and a
greater willingness to hear, VIC forget
that the peaccablc time is the result of
this very frank discussion, and that In
postponing the debate we postpone the
peace. 1t is by education, by cnlight-
cnmcnt of every kind that the temper
of the disturbed section is To bc mod
Grated. We can no more e.cape the
agitation than the disturbed electrical
condition of the atmosphere and the
earth can adjust itself without Il
thunderstorm.
Ii would, indeed, hc extremely un-
fair If one side only were allowed to
speak; and il j. alleged that the Re-
what they will in any manner they
choose. The charge is totally untrue.
Wade Hampton has exactly the same
freedom that Henry Wilson has, and
| Governor Orr may speak has plainly
as Judge Kelley. Probably while the
States are under military rule none O
these speakers would bc allowed t,
urgc resistance 10 the Government
But the restriction would bc impartial
II would silence Mr. Wilson ~ well ~
Mr.. Hampton.
For ourselves we confess that the
true plan seems Ia Ice To have forc'
which secures orlcr, and then TO le
every tongue wag ut It's will. Every
body feels better when hc has OK
pressed himself, and great man.
listeners smile 10 discover what :
small matter il was. In no other wa,
than by absolute freedom of spcccl
will the people of the disturbed state
ever bc politically educated, or tn
region become sufficiently tranquil Il
allow the withdrawal of the troops
H4IDcr'S UccklY.