Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-03-27
A Case of Hardship,

HERE is palpable cause of complaint
against President Grant When. four
years ago, he took the oath of office as
President of the United States, there were
not wanting able editors and eloquent
orators who darkened the land with dis
NAL Vaccinations of an impending coup
d'etot which would throw that of Louis
Napoleon into the shade, and result in q
despotism more cruel, bloody, and grind
ing than that of the autocrat of all the
Russias. Free speech was TO be inter
dicted. Independent newspapers were to
be suppressed, and their editors shut up
IN military Bastiles or deported to II 2
gloomy deserts of Alaska, which Terri
tory had been purchased for the express
purpose of being converted into an
American Siberia. The man "Of iron
heart, iron will, and iron hand" whose
ambitious schemes the people had unwit-
tlDgly abetted by making him their Chief
Magistrate, was to wade through slaugh-
ter to a throne and shut the gates of
mercy on mankind.
The earnestness and constancy of these
prophets Of evil left no doubt as to the
reality of their fears. They never closed
their eyes at night without expecting to
be dragged from their bed before morning
and lmmured in some gloomy dungeon,
where, like the prisoner Of Chillon, chain
ed to the floor, they would wear out the
remainder Of their life in darkness and
despair, Whenever they took their walks
abroad, by day or night, they were haunt
ed by visions of spies, lettres de cachet,
military satraps, and minions of secret
police. We can not but admire the cour-
age of men who believed al this and vet
remained where they were exposed to
such dangers, Timid men would have
fled the country, and, with trembling
limbs and heads prematurely gray, have
sought the protection Of the benefcent
paternal governments of the Old World
Or is it possible that they fingered here
under the fascination of danger, as the
innocent and simple bird is said to be
held by the eye of the trl .cherous rattle
snake?
The malignant nature of the man in the
White House is sIgnally illustrated by the
cold-blooded manner in which he has for
tour long years kept these victims on the
textbooks Of despairing terror Like
the disciples Of Miller, they constantly
prophesy the near approach of the day of
wrath, but weeks, months, and years roll
by and the dreaded day does not dawn.
Every morning surprises them on their
peaceful pillows. They go to their places
OF business, and return in safety to their
anxious families. Their case is truly
desperate and deplorable. Their credit
as prophets and soothsayers has become
sadly impaired. They cry aloud in the
streets and no man regardeth them. We
can see but one way of escape from the
dilemma in which they have placed them
selves. Said good old lady to one of
those Jealous disciples to whom we have
alluded, suppose the day you have set
Tor the end Of the world should go by
without that event coming to pass, what
then?" Madam, replied the undaunted
Mlllerlte, Il should believe it had come
without our knowing it." Can it be pos
slole that, without knowing it, we are al
ready living under q terrible despotism,
and that some fearful glamour has blind
ed our eyes to the iron collars about our
necks, and deafened our ears to the horrid
clanking of our chains?
AS we reflect upon this matter our in
dlgnatlon rises. If the President is really
treadIng US under foot without our know
ing 1t, ne must not only be a man of iron
heart, iron will, iron hand, and iron heel,
out man OF enormous duplicity. This
IS more than human nature can patiently
endure. y downright acknowledged des-
potism would be bad enough, but a des-
potsm IN dlsguise-Ah, Mr. President,
Tample us under foot if YOU will, I'M
prison us in Bastiles, or Danish US to
Alaska, but spare us that terror without a
name -Harper'S WeeBIv