Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-27
Things You Want to Knew i;: C.: IS s.,

was always a quarrel and often a fight
scores OF duels were fought, federallsts
would not speak to democrats, democrats
declined TO recognise federalists Party
feeling was intense and everybody des-
paired OF the republic The federahsts ap-
pear actually TO have believed that JET
ferson and the republicans intended 70 set
up on this side Of the Atlantic the horrors
Of the French terror. while the republicans
were not less sincere in their belief that
the federaHsts aimed 20 establish a mon
arohy. set up an aristooracy and destroy
human liberty There was no temperance,
no moderation, no conservatism.
The indignation against France had ~
effect and the federalists soon had gained
complete control OF the house, In which
at the beginning they had been slightly in
the minority. In July. 1855 congress en-.
acted the odious seditlon bill which, linked
with the allen bill passed by the same
body, marked an epoch In political Rf-
fairs. As introduced, the sedition bill de-
clsred that every Frenchman was an
enemy to the United states and to give him
aid or comfort was treason, punishable
with death. Another section provided that
anyone who In speech or print justified
France or DETAINED the government Of the
! United states, should suffer punishment
| by imprisonment or fine. THIS bill was
| introduced in the senate. hut even the ted
/ eralst majority there was not sufficiently
/ radical to adopt the measure in itg original
/ form. II went to the house whore Il was
again modified, and where the republicans
succeeded IN amending II 90 that the truth
might be given in defense of libel. AZ
passed. the sedition act provided for pun
ishment OF conspiracy TO oppose any meas
/ ure or measures OF the government, pro-
] ,.id-T for for uaraon
who should, by written OF printed words,
| utter libel against the government Of
| the United States. the president, or either
house Of congress. The act. by an amend
ment put on by the house, was to expire
by the limitation on March 3. 1901
The operation of this law was claimed
by the democrats 70 infringe the free
dom Of speech and the freedom Of the
press, and a great outcry was made against
IT, In passing this bill the federallsts unWit-
tingly gave their opponents an opportunity
to take & stand upon which they might re-
cover ground lost because Of their IN
fortunate French partisanship. Matthew
Lyon. a representative from Vermont ana
a violent democrat, was imprisoned in his
home town by q federal Judge because OF
the fact that he had twice refused 10
cater to what he considered President
Adams monArChial pretensions when that
stateman served cakes and wine to the
members OF congress at receptions. Lyon
asked the Judge at the trial " he had not
himself attended these pretentOus func-
tons. The Judge declared that the recep-
lions were republican in their simplicity.
and he sentenced Lyon 70 jan, fined him
and scolded him numerically
Lyon was the most hated democrat in
the country Being insulted in the house
one day by a federalist Griswod OF Con-
nectlcut he had rstorted by splitting in
GrtBwold'a face A few days later Girls
void mauled Lyon with cudgel on the
floor of the house, Both men were out
rageousy ct fault, but partisanship caused
, the federallsts to defend Grswold and 60
attack Lyon, and vice versa. Lyon wRs
in jail when the congressional elections
were held. but he was triumphanty re-
elected. only TO be mobbed and maitreatsd
, by New Jersey federansts when on his re-
turn TO congress after serving out his term
The low moral tone Of those loose times
was reflected I'm the vile gossip and sian
derous attacks which eentered around
every public man. No man was too good
OF too true to escape Islander. Personalities
we're INDUCED in by almost every politician
and tbs greatest names among the fathers
OF the republic are 20 be found in conneo-
ton with the most questinona pOlitioaJ
y cOnBpirRciea.
But despite the hue and cry against thl
allen and sediton laws the federalist appaa.
r TO patriotism had it's effect and in the con
n gressonal elections for the first time in sir
4 years the federalists captured a cleA
. ma jority Of the house, electinR fifty-sevef
e representatives ss opposed 10 forty-eigh
democrats, The federslists, thus confirmed
n In their power, were now supreme and 4
g must be admitted that they thought more o.
Il revenge against their unsuccessful op
It ponents than OF constructive statesman
% ship. But the victory had come too late
J. the tederalists already had dug the grave II
e which they we're soonto be buried.
nj FRHDEBIO ]. RAsEIN.
n ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS oompAisAS-
e IV-Ths RSvolution OF 1900.