The Monte Vista journal., 1899-06-10
IMPERIALISM,

quest of defenseless peoples, but in
the tendency toward the suppress
ion of free speech and free press.
Walter Hurt, the pungeut aud
fearless editor of The Gatling Gun,
Published at Cleveland, Ohio, has
been arrested under the Comstoc;
law for criticising the policy of the
administration IL the Philippines
He comments on the prosecution
as follows:
"tor the information Of my inter
ested friends, as well Us uthera
who have regard for the remnant
of liberty, who hope for the pre-
servntion OF any part Of popular
freedom, | will say that the cnse
against me in the federal court hRs
been carried over TO the Septen-
Der term. That the public may
have more thorough understand
ing of the charge agaiugt me, it
might be well to explain that | am
indicted under the Coms,ock law
on constructive obsceuiiy.' This
statute is sufficiently comprehrn-
sive to cover most everything in
creation. 1t was designated for
the purpose of placing Il powerful
tool in the hands of tyranny. 1t
Is as vague as it is yoluminous.
The offense is not defined, aud any
decision as to its existence must br
left to the discretion Of jury WHO
are given no concrete principle or
consistant rule to guide them IN
their judgment. Under this law,
conceived by lascivious lunniic-
verminous varmlnt not less yul.
pine than vicious, who battcub on
blackmail,-scarcel phrase cnu
be fashioned in language, however
innocent its intent, which is not
susceptible of an obscene construc-
ton. Albeit it is a principle us
old us Jurisprudence itself, that ig-
norance of the law does not excuse
the offender, in all civilized coun-
tries of modern times the law Is
supposed to be both exp!ici. aud nc
ceptable. But here in this luul
which we call the home of liberty,
we have returned TO the iromcal in
iquities of the Roman tribunate.
81 am not informed on legal in
tricacies, but l have clear con-
ception of the basic principles Of
common justice. These tricks and
technicalities of law, with all their
confusing complications, seem To
me trivial things and ! am sure
that they are in nowise related to
equity. am impatient of this IN
ane mummery. Whatever the rul-
ings of the court, whatever the YER
dict of the jury, this case must be
tried at higher tribunal, must
come at last before the bar of pub
lie opinion. Whatever the nth.
tude OF my attorneys, shall insist
that the principle involved shall
not be put aside. | will agree 10
no concessions and accept no com.
promise FOR the sake Of pal,ry
personal advantage. shall at no
time adopt coucilia,ory course.
My individual freedom is not the
issue-there is something of in.
comparably greater Importance
mt stake. The liberty of every
person in the lanl-avc the very
welfare of the world-swings IN
the oscilln,ing scales Of the tickle
strumpct with the bandnged brow.
/ would deserve nothing better
than the dungeon did consider
only my own safety in n crisis like
this. And ! would rnther rot IN II
sunless cell than 10 rcnouncc one
jot or little of my rights. So there
will be fighting instead Of fencing.
II shall demand the rights guar.
nutecd me by the constitution of
my country. l shall insis, upon n
correct Interpretation Of both the
letter aud the spirit of ,ha, cons;i.
ton. l will not supinciy submit
to being robbed OF those rights by
official bandits. Aud il ! Rm TO bc
thus robbed in spite OF every re.
sistancc. nt least the whole coun.
try shall know who committed ,he
crime even nv they will be mnlr
familiar with every detail oi the
despoi!n,ion. l will paraphm.c
Paul, who declared himeclt "a No.
man, aud will cry on, 80 that
continent cuu haar. 4 uut Dt