The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-01-12
DYNAMITE AND ASSASSINATION.

Phelan, in the office of the notorious ODono-
van Rosa, again calls attention to pestlfer-
Gus coterie Of agitators and professional MUIR
derers that sooner or later must be looked af-
ter to the end that the peace and safety of
American society benot threatened. AS the self
appointed champions of Ireland, these men have
done incalculable harm to the cause of Irish
deliverance, and if left to their laundering
and vengeful policy the people of Ireland will
never arrive at that which they so much de-
sire and so much deserve. The sympathy of
the American public is and has been with
Ireland in her efforts to obtain greater politi-
cal and commercial liberty. 1t is deeply to
Rossa-which, by the way, is not the fellows
name-should push to the front in this most
serious business. The cause of Ireland calls for
the most careful conduct of the movement
looking to the redress of the wrongs so long
perpetrated against that people. The supreme
court of public opinion, before which it must
be tried, must be appealed to in such manner
as to command respect and elicit sympathy.
These once secured, England could not with
hold those concessions which so manifestly
should be made. But just so long as cut
throats instead of patriots, assassins in
stead of statesmen, are in charge,
just that long will the worlds sympathy be
l
forfeited and the help of intelligent influence
be despised. To appeal to arms is an honora-
BILE thing only when honorably undertaken.
Assassination, however dangerous to those en-
gagged in it, is never any other than dastardly
and Infamous. Of itself, it has never and can
never bring about desirable reform. The very
thought of secret murder is repugnant to every
manly instinct, and can but bring upon
ell who engage in it the contempt and
condemnation of honorable men. The
men consorting with ODonovan Rosa,
and with him planning explosions and assas-
sinaton have no right nor title to be ranked
as patriots Even though one OF all of them
should consent to die in the execution Of such
plots, it would not erect them into patriots,
nor save their names from the stain Of inn
perishable dishonor. The rights of Ireland can,
we think, be obtained without the she'd
| If it be found that this is mistake, and blood
be demanded, let the blood of patriots be
poured out in manly, patriotic way. Let
revolution be undertaken, not by schemers
that hide in America or in France, but by all
the people of Ireland, from Londonderry to
the Skelligs. Powerful and able as England
is, she would not dare to put the people to the
sword, while the sentiment of the civilized
world must compel somewhat of justice to the
oppressed.
The United States government can not
much longer delay taking cognizance of these
men and devising means to prevent their
crimes. This not so much as a measure to
preserve international comfy as one of self-de-
fense Already their baleful example is bear
ing its legitimate fruit and incendiary talk is
INDUCED in, urging the use of dynamite as
the most reasonable means of secur-
| ing redress for supposed wrongs.
Such talk can be apologized for
! under governments in which the masses have
| no voice, but in America, where there are no
! privileged classes, where each man, rich or
poor votes once, and only once, such utter
ances scandalize and pervert free speech.
Free speech that threatens to cut the Threats
of law-abiding citizens, or that urges assassina-
| ton, is but the precursor of anarchy, against
which government has the right to protest in
such way as to put an end to it. All men
having voice alike in the shaping of the laws,
it is not for desperate few to set the law
aside at their own murderous caprice. The
nation that winks at such incendiary talk only
invites its own downfall It were as reasona-
BILE to permit one or half dozen workmen on
the new State Capitol to publicly threaten to
blow up that structure or assassinate the con-
tractor. Public safety and mutual interests
of rich and poor alike demand that this
| disreputable and inflammatory talk cease, and
cease at once. If there is anything wrong in
the way law is drawn or administered, the
people have the means in their own hands to
| bring about the desired reforms. The man
who talks dynamite and assassination in free
America is the enemy of liberty and deserves
no pity but should at once be put beyond the
possibility of doing harm or melting others to
crime,
Hon. JOHN w. DANIEL, of Virginia, has
been selected by the Washington monument
committee to deliver the grafton before Con-
! gress at the Washington monument dedication
/ carernonias on Eah d C lrent lem