The weekly miner., 1881-08-09
FREEDOM OF SPEECH.

York of Hartmann, one OF the Russian Nihil-
lists who has taken an active part in the vari-
Gus plots for assassination, directs attention
at this time to the mischief of the
unlicensed and demoralizng word rack
ct poured into the ears and addressed to the
imaginations of the debased and dsorganiz-
ing elements of humanity. He comes for
the avowed purpose of lecturing to obtain
money to fulther the aims of assassins. He
is an assassin in sentiment, an accessory be-
fore and after the fact of assassination, and
in position to mingle among his fellow men
for the reason that The galows has been
che of it's dues. He can walk abroad
throughout this land with feeling of secur-
ity born of know ledge that no man can be
arrested and held for extradtion OH Ameri-
can soil for political offence. The reason
for immunity from punishment for such Of
fences appeals strongly TO our sense Of justice
and expedency: some of our best citizens
ample of this is found in the case of Carl
Schurz, who fed from his native country for
connection with the revolution of 1S4S. In
all cases of revolution or civil war we are
forced to recognize an independent and hon.
est purpose for change of what may be re-
garded as vicious 10 what is deemed essen
tial to healthy progress in governmental af
fairs. If there had been no resolule spirit of
opposition to the exactions Of the mother
country America might still have been a COL
Ony of Great Britain
But the case of Hartmann is different. He
does not propose to arouse in the breasts of
his countrymen feeling of opposition to the
wrongs from which they suffer; he does not
choose to put his life in jeopardy for an idea.
He is an enemy to social order. lie has the
instincts Of a savage and the methots
of sneak thief. He has no single attribu,
that can commend him to our charitable, con-
sideratlon as political refugee. He should
he apprehended as one dangerous to his kind,
and held for extradition upon the application
of his own government. He should not be
allowed to poison the minds of the people of
this land with his abominable doctrines.
They are offensive to good morals. They are
more dangerous to humanity than obscene
literature, which the law prohibits. The
prohibition should be extended to include
Indictment to assassination, murder, riot.
arson and kindred matters. The peace and
security of society are as much involved in
one case as in the other. Hartmann cannon
ton without an increase of pernicious ideas
and the mole frequent occurrence of such
examples as was furnished by the depraved
Guitcau.
The right OF men to utter their opinions
freely upon all questions is guaranteed in the
first amendment to the constitution, which
says: "Congress shall make no laws re
specting an establishment of religion or pro
hibting the free exercise thereof; or
abrdging the freedom of speech or
of the press" The Jeficrsonan ak
iom is generally acquiesced III that
no form of error is dangerous so long as truth
is left free TO combat it. In the domain of
religious controversy, or political discussion,
or metaphysical inquiry, the truth of this
has found universal recognition
in the American mind. In all matters of
opinion human intelligence can be relied OH
to discover the truth and among the various
doctrines advanced to decree survival of the
fittcst. The futility Of all attempt to legislate
morals into people is beginning to be dis
covered among nations that have long expe,
with established religions. To reach
such a case as is now presented in the an
nounced purpose of Hartmann to lecture on
it is not necessary to t'ample
upon the constitution or establish any new
principle of law. This question has been ad
judicated over and over again. Libel laws and
statutes against obscene literature are en-.
acted, but these do not abridge the freedom
of the press in the direction of decency laws
are passed against profane, obscene, loud
and boisterous language, and yet this is
held not be any abrdgement Of the freedom
of speech. The reason of the law is the pub
lie good and upon this ground, ifthele are
no laws to meet such cases as the advent of
Hartmann now presents, they should be
speedily enacted.