The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1873-07-26


Charles A. Dana, who offended certain
public officers by too free criticism of
their acts, has been sued in the United
States Court Of the District Of Columbia
for libel, and it is proposed to take Mr..
Dana ui ct arms to the District Of CoIum-
bia for trial, and the question as to wheth-
er Mr.. Dana can be removed out Of the
Jurisdiction Of the State of New York, is
to be decided by Judge Blatchford to-day.
1t is hardly necessary to say that the ques-
tion is attracting the attention Of men Of
all parties, as ii is thought to 20 to the
very marrow of the experiment of popu-
lar government" If scoundrelism can be
no longer exposed, if Radical rascalities
are to find refuge behind Radical bayonets,
and to be vindicated by Radical courts,
then the time has arrived when the people
are in the iron grasp os absolute power.
1t is healthy sign of the time 70 see GER
tain papers uttering manly protest against
the usurpations Of the Government Of
Grant and his hired-tools; and all the
more so since these protests are found in
papers, which not long ago were regarded
as the pillars Of radicalism, and the earnest
defenders of radical reforms.
The New York Tribune is among the
number which does not propose to be mis-
understood in the matter. With reference
to the court in which Mr.. Dana would be
tried were he sent to the District Of Co
lumbia, the Tribune says: !, aWhen it is
remembered that the living Of majority
Of the population from which a jury must
be drawn for his trial depends upon the
viii Of the administration which Mr.. Dana
has pursued for years with relentless and
unceasing hostility; that the tribunal is
one of Federal appointment and the at
mosphere and surroundings are courtly
rather than popular lit win not be difficult
to understand the apprehension that the
court is orgaaized 70 conpict."
1t is hardly possible to point to worse
picture Of n court, and it would seem i'm
possible for a court to find profounder
depth of degradation. When the popular
verdict is that United States Court is
organized to convict to do the bidding of
the President or of party, it is safe to
affirm that such court il something worse
than nuisance. But such is the esti-
mate of the Tribune Of District Of Co
lumbia Court. This degradation and de-
moralixation has been reached through the
centnlizing policy of the Radical party,
and the demand to take Mr.. Dana to
Washington is very properly regarded as
in the highest sense dangerous to the lib
critics Of the people, and accomplished win
be accepted as an evidence that the cen
tral power at Washington has become i'm
pregnably entrenched. The Tribune, in
reviewing the political year just past, very
properly enquiries with regard to the ten
dency Of events, and says:
Last year the President desired re-
election. Not one Of the $4,000 Office
holders needed to be told Of il. He did
not need 20 utter IT, From the ganglia Of
the departments il thrilled TO the remosest
hamlet and from these smaller ceates Of
influence It radiated still it infused the
caucus, inspired the convention and pack
ed the assembly that renominated him.
He had done many questionable things !;
not many wise ones. He was unanimously
nominated and overwhelmingly reelected,
and in the convention or the party NO man
dared to oppose him. Let W see what we
have committed to him already and what
awaits him. Il made no special sensation
.v..s,.n~ Lts o.x..~.<x<tn.. 49, IL. -.