, 1868-02-07
To the Editor of the "St. CrOix Avis"
Dear Sir,

Lear or,
The Government appeared to have quite
ignored its dignity, when it descended to prose-
cute you for the remarks made by you, in
your Avis Nos. 8 and 4; they have thereby
made you, as "junius" observes in your last
"Avis," a"Martyr," in the opinion of the public.
In all Countries where liberty of speech IS
granted, and a free press exists, the actions or
Government are approved of, or censured,
through the public papers which then operate
as a balance-wheel, between the acts OF Gov
eminent, and the subjects they are governing.
1t has often happened, that when Governments
have interfered with the liberty of the press,
that they have brought upon themselves, the
censure of public opinion. The reason is, that
public opinion, views the interference OF any
Government, in such respects, not as an attack
on the individual itself, but, as an attempt to
coerce a principle, which is a right granted to
every subject under a liberal Government, viz,
that of freely expressing proper opinions on the
actions of officials, appointed TO carry out inc
administration of Government.
Denmark, is one of those countries, where Its
subjects enjoy that right to its fullest %extentj
no other Country in the world, can boast of a
more liberal constitution, and where public
opinion is more freely expressed, on the right
or wrong doings of its Government. His Ma
iesty was graciously pleased to extend-"with
such alterations as result form relations peculiar
to the Island"-that same liberty of the press,
which the Mother Country enjoys, to the Colonies;
hence, we are likely to view any measures which
may be taken to prevent a free expression of GER
tain proper opinions, as an innovation, on the
rights, thus grantedhy His Majesty. We are there
fore, also allowed to censure the acts of Gov
eminent, when it can be shewn that the authori-
ties, appoirted to carry out the laws thereof
are not operating for the good of the public
welfare or, are acting with Partially towards
certain individuals, and straining the law to
punish others.
Ar illustration of the partially towards one
individual, and the attempt to strain the law to
punish another, for the public expression of
opinions, is now before the public, viz, THE
ONE CASE, of prosecution entered into against
you by the Government, with Lawyer Heilbuth
as prosecutor, (Strange coincidence for certain
remarks made by you in your Avis, Nos. 3 and
d, and,
THE OTHER CASE, the remarks made by Lawyer
Heilbuth, in his pamphlet, published in 1916,
and entitled, Denmark and Saint Croix in their
mutual relations 'vide Saint Croix Avis, No.
8, Article Az on which occasion, Lawyer
Hielbuth was not prosecuted, by Government.
The matter is therefore interesting to the
public, to know, what will be the result of your
case { Yoa, a Native, are being prosecuted as
perhaps it could not either in this instance "be
considered right in principle" that you should
have the same liberty of expressing your opin-
ions as Lawyer Heilbuth. who is a Mother-Coun-
trv-born Dane, had, when he published his
pamphlet in 1916, vide Saint Croix Avis, No. 8,
Article Az in the opinion of the Court, when
your Case, will ultimately be brought to a COM
p~arison, with the remarks made use of by Law
yer Heilbuth, in the pamphlet above referred to.
l beg to observe to you, that the public are
not satisfied with the way the translation of
your prosecutors plea is being given. The
public desire a clean translation, under a separ-
ate heading, mot under the head of Editoria)
and any comments you have to make thereon,
would then find a more fitting place in your
Editorials. Your obdt. servt, j.
Saint Croix, 9Th February 1868.