The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1881-03-29
A New Issue.
Does Democracy Mean Assassination
John Kellys Paper Advocates 1.-THE
Sun" Serves Notice to Quit.



Does Democracy mean Assassination?
If HDemocracy means Assassination, then we
have to say that, without standing upon the
order of our going, zoe step cut Of the Demo
cratic camp at once.
We ask the question on account of the ap-
pearance in the New York Evening Express of
most extraordinary article intimating and
threatening that assassination will not be con-
fined to tyrants upon thrones, but that it will
be extended to some Of our own milionares
unless they change their course.
We copy this article entire below.
The Express assigns as a reason why these
assassinations will take place the fact, to use
its own phrase, that "the irresistible undercur-
rent of American civilization is Democratic"
The Express is largely controlled and owned
by old members of the Democratic party. It's
words on such subject are presumed to have
been very carefully considered. They carry
with them in this case tremendous weight, and
it seems to us will fill the country with con-
sternation.
At all events, we hereby serve upon all con-
cerned Immediate, instantaneous notice that
we enlist under no blood-red flag of Assassina-
ton, and we will neither lead nor follow under
such flag, by whomsoever borne, and wheth-
er they call themselves Democrats or by any
other name.
The idea and the plans of assassination are
spreading. Not only has another mine run
ming underneath the Emperor's palace been
unearthed in Russia, but an Internal box in
tended to blow up the house of the Lord Mayor
in London was discovered barely in time to
prevent an explosion.
There is no occasion and no room for such
diabolical measures under the radiant and be-
nefcent light of our free and equal institu-
tions; and whoever would introduce them
should be looked upon as himself the bearer of
the torch OF the incendiary and the dagger of
the assassin.
WHAT JOHN KELLY's PAPER ADVOCATES.
IN. Y Evening Express Dem.).l
The assassination is an unmistakable warn
ing to kings and rulers everywhere. 1t needs
no interpreter to decpher its meaning. Mon
archs who rule for their own pleasure and prof.
it, and glory, without regard to the rights and
welfare OF the people, and the sacred claims of
humanity, may well tremble. Indeed, Alex
ander III. has already been notified, by mes
sage conveyed in deadly mine, that II he
rules Russia after the manner Of his father in
these latter years he must expect to meet the
same sort of fate. Eighty millions of people
will not be content to be ridden over, and
crushed and crucifed for the aggrandizement
of one man. And every crowned head in
Europe trembles at the terrible intimation of
the doom that possibly awaits all rulers who
oppress or even neglect the people.
deed ,ohtch not fe1c men n, this country 1coutd
do oceH TO ponder. We have no Emperor to
crush the people and Danish whoever he fears
or dislikes, without trial, to Siberian desc
lation; we have no titled aristocracy to lord it
over peasant, tenant and serfs. But ienhin
quarter Of century there has groaon up here a
class of Uery rich nae1a-of capitalists aoho haze
accumulated enormous fortunes, in some cases
through privileges obtained from Legislatures
they had bribed; of the heads of gigantic cor
porations who have used the powers granted by
State Governments they themselves had elect
ed to absorb the property of the people and tax
the public at will. Many of our rich men are
public benefactors, using their wealth to bene-
ut the community in various ways, doing good
continually and honoring human nature. All
such men are loved, honored and revered. But
unfortunately, too many Of oar ne,o made NIT
hondtres are neither charitable, humane, l,ber-
al nor Kind: they use their enormous tcealh to
increase their estates and pooer; to seize on the
rights and privileges and property of the peo-
pie; to bribe Legislatures for their own advan-
tage to the public injury, and to form combi-
nations with other capitalists to control
the country and absorb whatever is
valuable in it. Already the people eUerylchere
naurnaur aloud, and condemn the spirit and acts
Of these men. Already the people begin to re-
gard them as dangerous, and look in all direc-
tions for effective legal means TO protect them
selves against their aggressions. They are
safe under the protection of the laws, safe in
the innate respect of all Americans for the
rights of person and property. But let their
aggressions continue and season OF depres-
sion fall on our country, in which workingmen
shall have nothing to do and nothing to eat,
and another face will be put upon the situa-
ton. EUery millionaire in America holds his
fortune and his life at the mercy of ctrcuna-
stances which season may change, and pop
ulace which want, aggravated by a sense of
wrong, may excite to acts of violence There
is no use in trying to wink the facts out of
sight. They are clear as the sun at MONDAY.
1t stands every american millionaire IN hand
to ponder ,oeH the meanings of recent eUents
and the tendencies Of the age. Niagara cannot
be damned. The irresistible undercurrent of
American civilization is Democratic Our
ideas, sentiments, education, literature, Gus
toms, trade, all sweep forward in one direc-
ton. The people will rule They know their
friends. They will honor and immortalize
their benefactors. But their enemies, wheth-
er crowned monarchs or uncrowned capital
lists, who use their power to oppress the masses,
and enrich themselves ut the public expense,
and bulldoze Governments, have no favors to
expect. They who SOW wind must expect tor
nadoes.