Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1893-10-26

anu hOUOAf taltSs 1ttlDu@t sOlDo tf-
rants have punished with death, the
man who only dreamed Of treason.
Ihere, man may write OF even print
whatever he pleases-tor the govern
ment, jealous though it be. does not, as
Napoleon did, exercise a censorship
over the press, and scent out offensive
thoughts among the greasy pages of
the manuscript Contraband opinions.
as long as they lie in the authors Gus
tody, like poisonous reptiles in cage,
are deemed harmless, it is their circulq-
ton that exposes the author 10 the pun
ishment of the law He is not restrained
from the circulation Of offensive opinions
by physics force, but must run the
hazard Of a criminal prosecution. Many
Of the abuses Of the government espe-
cially the conduct OF the Premier, may
be spoken OF with the utmost freedom,
but the government does not interfere.
The scaqdalanl magnatum is 10 utter
anything tending to disgrace the
ruling sovereign, his family officials, CT
the established church, in the eyes of
the people Some years ago, the
coward clergy of the Church of England
invoked the civil arm to stay the circu-
lationof Paine's Age of Reason, because
they were too lazy to travel with the
historian into past ages, too fat to
climb with geologists to the height of
mountains. and gather from all the
development of science, the evidences
in favor of Christianity, and thus i'm
plant in The public mind, a rational
instead Of a legislative faith. Tue
clergy of the Church of England con-
fessed by their pusillanimous conduct
that christianity could not be success
fully defended, or that they had not
the adequate influence over the public
mind. else why did they call upon the
civil arm to protect the Bible from the
soothing of one poor proiigate infdel?
The government is especially sensitive
as to the character of its sovereign. In
the reign of George III, man was
prosecuted for printing a conjecture
that his Majesty was an idiot. Geo. d.
Prentice will speak of President Tyler
in terms that even O'Connell would
dread to use against Queen Victoria.
The bare fitting of such thoughts
through his mind would cause his very
loyal soul to revolt as though he had
committed the objectionable sin. The
English are not accustomed to make
free with the character of their sover-
eign. Their laws forbid ton the
contrary our constitution does not pro-
tect the highest dignitary from ridicule
and misrepresentation. When Jefter-
son filled the Presidential chair, q
foreign visitor found an opposition
paper, whose columns oozed forth
rabid abuse, and heaped opprobious
epithets upon his excellency. The
foreigner FASTENED to put the paper in
| the President hands, and enquired in
alarm what he was going to do about
it. DO nothing" replied the great
Democrat. Here was the true Repub-
lican spirit Jefferson leaned upon a
CONSCIOUSNESS of his own integrity, and
he trusted his character to the judg-
ment of the people. Prentice may
rival even Nature herself in rendering
Capt. Tyler contemplate, but if his
friends cannot wipe of his own and
foreign slime as fast as it showered upon
him. the Constitution affords him no
redress The trainers of this instru-
ment have left even the fundamental
principles of our government open to
attack The Monarchist is allowed the
free use of the press 10 persuade Amer
leans to escape the Dangers popular
sgitauon, by steering the vessel Of state
into the wayeless haven of despotism.
The nulliher may use this constitutional
power. to prove the expedieaoy Of DIS
solving the Union. and while thus
essaying to subyert our Constitution,
ii spreads its protecting aegis over
them. SO the God of Heaven impels its
vital air through the lungs Of the very
wretch that would hurl him from his
throne.
TIE first minded article gives full
PLAY to the human mind in its most
maleyolent mood, and not only cta)
lenges fair aud open discussion. but
allows even malice and fanaticism t
spend their fury upon our most sacre,
institutions. Religion. whose tratt
o,her states VIII not suffer Is TIE goes