Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-08-13

For we have found in this Republic that
democratic institutions were no barrier to
the erection of class and other enmit:es,
and that our Socialists and Communists
have been able to find the autocratic prin.
ciple in all manner of varieties Of our
simple citizens.
The threats of American Communism
have been as ferocious as those of the
Nihilists, and if they, too, have not
practiced the Gospel of Dynamite, they
certainly have preached it. And the
American people have accustomed them
selves to hear these constant truculent and
brutal threats directed against all who
were disliked by the Communists, by the
lowest classes, by the loafers and rowdies
and shirkers and thieves. These latter have
donned certain sham principles, and under
the cover of them have made war upon all
thrift and industry and superior ability.
And because our political system makes
towards of all who seek elevation by it,
and because public men dare not oppose
themselves to any movement which has,
or seems to have, many votes behind 1t,
there has been no attempt to break down
this offensive and discreditable cutlery, and
it has been allowed to become familiar
Now when shameful things are often re-
peated, the infamy of them comes to escape
recognition, and presently they are re-
garded as harmless. And this has hap
pened here. We have endured the men,
aces and the atrocious suggestions of our
Communists and Socialists until we no
longer attach any meaning to what they
say. But others do, and they do, and
they take our growing indifference for con-
sent and conversion. For this very passive
endurance of the kind of staggering trucu.
leIce which these people affect, not only
deadens our own sensibilities, but actually
strengthens the enemies of society.
Hartmann was thus led to think that he
would find no difficulty in enlisting Ameri.
can sympathy. The Nihilists have been
in constant correspondence with the
United States, and this is what they
thought they had learned. They were
aware that the Fenians, an organization
similar to their own, boosted of having
agencies in this country for the manufac.
ture of internal machines, and that this
territory was to be made the center of
hostile operations against England; and
they naturally supposed that so very
easy going and tolerant a people would be
mite cordially. And if the attempt of
Guitteau had not been made, it is by no
means certain that Hartmanns reception
would have been the same. For it must
be remembered that there has been a
marked inclination to give harbor and
refuge to men of his occupation, in the
past, and that considering the extent of
communistic license always submitted to
here, it would have been almost absurd
to have raised any serious objections in
the present case.
But Guitteaus pistol has opened our
eyes to many things. 1t has shown us
that we cannot avoid some of the worst
evils which the advance OF Communism
forces upon European Governments. It
has shown US that our democratic institu-
tions are no safeguard against assassina-
ton. 1t has forced US to understand that
though it might be safe to allow perfectly
free discussion of all subjects if all men
were sane or intelligent, it is not safe go
long as many men are neither. And it is
suggested also that there may be good
deal of room for amendment in our current
doctrine of liberty. For instance, there
are certain questions of morality the super
vision and control of the discussion of
which is almost universally allowed to be
necessary. We permit the police to exer-
else arbitrary authority in many cases
where public morals are concerned. Is it
not time to recognize the fact that the pro-
motion of public morals must necessarily
include protection against the dissemina-
ton of doctrines which teach men that
murder is often legitimate, and that assas-
sination is proper method OF adjusting
inequalities of social condition In fact,
we are beginning to perceive that utter
license is not safe that there NAV be such
thing as an abuse of freedom and that
when it occurs democratic institutions are
no better protection against outrage and
violence than autocratic ones. In short, it
is becoming recognized that we cannot
afford to tolerate the Gospel of Dynamite
in any form.