The Montgomery advertiser., 1901-09-15
rHE LIMIT HAS BEEN REACHED

The individual liberty of the citizen and
the right of free speech are two OF the
recognized pillars of any free govern
ment, but each has it's limitations. In
countries where the greatest personal
liberty is allowed and exercised most care
is taken to so hedge that liberty about
with wise and just laws that 1t will not
interfere with tho rights of Others or
disturb the peace Of the State. Each In
dividual must give UP part of his liberty
in order that all may be benefited
The right of a citizen to express his
sentiments, and the right of any number
of citizens to meet and express them
selves are rights guaranteed TO as by our
Federal Constitution, and the people of
this country have always been extremely
jealous, of any encroachment on those
rights, and have resented any att 'mpt to
abridge them. The Alien and Soditicn
laws of the elder Adams were SD 2n-
popular that they were largely instru-
mental in driving from power the FEEDER
alists who were responsible for them. G'he
people had too lately acquired liberty to
submit to any abridgment of it.
Has the time arrived when the law
which expired one hundred years ago
must be revived, or something akin to it.,
in order to preserve the integrity of the
Republic and the safety of its chosen
servants? One Of the provisions of the
Adams laws, as they were called, en-
powered the President ito order cut of
the country such alien sas he might
reasonably suspect of secret machtna-
tons against the government. The sedi-
ton law was directed against seditious
conspiracy and libel, especially aimed at
obstructive opposition to the proceedings
OF government, and libellous or soditious
publications in regard to them.
The first of these laws gave the Presi-
dent too much power, and the second was
too great an encroachment on the rights
of the people. but the time has surely
arrived when some restrictive or reprcs-
sive legislation is demanded. In every
| nook and corner of this great Republic
| there is genuine sorrow over the de9th of
| a Chief Magistrate shot down in the prime
of life and health, surrounded by friends
and admirers. and in the performance CT
| a semi official duty. In her da"kened
| chamber the sweet-faced and devoted
| Christian wife weeps over the Tragic and
cruel taking off OF the man who was Il
her almost everything earthly and, like
| Rachel of old, refuses to be comfortei
| Can any one contend that the assassin
who shot the President conceived per
fected and executed his crime entirely OF
his own will and without encou. cement
or sympathy? Assuredly not. IN every
city of the North and West men and wO-
men meet in guarded rooms ana hole
| secret. oath bound meetings "h"r3 muir
der and rapine are approved and applaud
ed In those cities. also, public meetings
are held and speakers, botn male "nd
female, openly counsel and endorse as
sassination, defend anarchy ard applaud
| violence.
There arc three degrees or steps il
the career of anarchists. First, 10 de
nounce a ruler; second TO plot his death
and. third, to assassinate him. Is NJ
| one responsible but the one who uses the
knife or pistol? That is but little better
than to condemn the bullet and not thu
man who speeds it on Its mission o.
death. The real criminals are those wh'
counsel and plan the crime and VIII
rejoice over its commission. Back OF anC