Litchfield enquirer., 1878-12-26
A Land of Refuge 2

We have noticed disposition, especially ameng the religious papers, to abate something of the hospitality with which America has hitherto treated European refugees, in our re- eeption of the banshed German Socialists. These men, it must be remembered, have con- mitted no crime. Their religious and their political opinions are, indeed, almost as unpop- ular with the ruling classes of America as with the ruling classes of Germany. We must not forget, however. the vast difference between 'the English and American, and the Continen- tai modes of dealing with differences of opin- ion. We have no occasion to fear opinions We do not meet evil opinions with fines and imprisonments and banishments. We simply offer good counter-opinions. Sometimes crude ideas do harm here as elsewhere witness the Greenback deluslen; but errors disclosed and discussed soon cease to be dangerous. Often valuable truths are so mixed with error that they are separated with difficulty Eventual ly, however, the dress is eliminated in the cru cihle of free government, and the true metal serves the uses to which it is adapted.
 Bismark, on the contrary, considers it part of the duty of government to regulate opin- ions. He deals with Socialism on the same principle-though not not quite so savagely- as Philip Il dealt with Professionalism in the Netherlands. He has banished forty leaders uf an influential party in German politics on the charge that their views an such as s'en danger public order and safety" In short he manufactures his own danger.
 One excuse may perhaps be offered for the great 'Junker; :" that the German people can not be trusted to use the methods of liberty. America, certainly, has asnosuchexcuse. Ifthercis any valuable truth to be beextracted from among the manifest errors of Socialism, let America have the advantage of it by all means. If So- cialism IS all error, we can trust our people to md 1t out. When Tom Paine came back to spend his his last daysamong us, President lief ferson brought him rover in a governments vessel. It was worthy act-all the more worthy be- cause Paine's foreign carees had been one of failure. America owes nothing either to the inos who landed here, last week, or to their opinions; bur ss-a~ owes it to herself to receive all men and all opinions neeritably.
 It is now said that neither Blaine nor Conk- ling will stand in the way of Grants renomi- nation in 1880. We do not believe these sto- ries. Such thing might possibly be true of conkling, who may naturally expect to rum Grants third administration but Blaine can have no such hope, and is much too ambitious man to take ''back seat' of his own ac- cord Another thing is pretty evident. If Grant has third term he will owe it to the Democracy Unless they misbehave wretch edly, the people of the United States will Dey. q re-elect the man who stuck to BeIknap and tdismissed Bristow.
 BLAcKwooD's for December contains: Con- temporary Literature I. Journalists John Caldgate, Part K; French Home life Second Series.) No. ", In Tho Country The Fruit and Vintage of Herfordshire The Progress of Naval Architecture; The Cottage by the River; The Berlin Settlement Index.
 Leonard Scott Publishing Co.,, New York, $4 year.
 2 William Gleason, of Woodbury, is charged with an assault with intent to kill James Car rier, at New Haven. His father has given bail for his appearance.