El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-10-27
By
Frederic
]. Haskin
The Campaign OF 1898
II1-coNGREss1oNAL CAMPAIGNS.

ter Of Gen Washington, set the fash
ion for the women by presenting e
stand of colors to the Alexandria light
dragons in an address breathing de-
fiance to the French.
Every public meeting of any charac-
ter whatsoever, became a riot The
theaters were never so well filled
since every night both Federalists and
Republicans sought to be in the ma
jority, but the Federalists soon out
numbered their French sympnthizing
opponents. Every FederaIist wore in
his hat black cockade, while every
Democrat sported the red, white and
blue ribbon Of the French republicans
When black cockade and tri-color
met there was always a quarrel and
often a fight. Scores of duels were
fought Federalists would not speak to
Democrats. Democrats declined to rec
ognize Federalists- Party feeling was
intense and everybody despaired of the
republic The Federalists appear ac-
tually to have belived that jefferson
and the Republicans intended to set up
on this side of the Atlantic the horrors
or the French terror, while the Repub-
hcans were no less sincere in their
belief that the Federalists aimed to es-
tabl1sh a monarchy, set up an aristo-
cracy and destroy human liberty
There was no temperance, no mo6era-
ton, no conservatism.
Sedition Act Modified.
The indignation against France had
its effect and the FFeFderalists soon
gained complete control of the house, IN
which at the beginning they had been
slightly in the minority. In July. 1898.
congress enacted the odious sedition
bill, which, linked with the alien bill
passed by the same body, marked an
epoch in political affairs. AS introduce
ed, the sedition bill declared that ev-
cry 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 justi-
fled France or DETAINED the govern
ment of the United States, should suf-
fer punishment by Imprisonment or
fine The bill was introduced in the
senate, but even the Federalist ma
1ority there was not sufficiently radi-
cal to adopt the measure in it's origin
al form II went to the house where
1t was again modified, and where the
Republicans succeeded in amending IT
SO that the truth might be given in
defense of libel AS passed, the sedi-
ton act provided for punishment of
conspiracy to oppose any measure or
measures of the government, provided
for Imprisonment for any person who
should by written or printed words
utter libel against the government
OF the United States. the president or
either house Of congress. The act, by
an amendment put on by the house, was
to expire by limitation on March g.
1901
The operation of this law was claim
ed by the Democrats to infringe the
freedom of speech and the freedom of
the press, and a great outcry was made
against it. In passing this bill the Fed
eralists unwittingly gave their oppo-
nents an opportunity to take a stand
upon which they might recover grourd
lost because of their unfortunate
French craftsmanship Matthew Lyon. a
representative from Vermont and a vio-
lent Democrat, was imprisoned in his
home town by a federal judge because
of the fact that he had twice refused
to cater to what he considered preSi-
dent AdamS's monarchial pretensiops
when that statesman served cakes and
wine to the members of congress at re-
ceptions. Lyon asked the judge at the
trial if he had not himst1f attended
these pretentious functions. The Judge
declared that the receptions were re-
publican in their simplicity, and he
sentenced Lyon TO jail, fined him and
seeded him numerically.
Lion Is LyODized.
Lyon was the most hated Democrat
in the country. Being insulted in the
house one day by a Federalist, Girls
void of Cinnecticut he had retorted by
splitting in Griswolds face. a few days
later Griswold mauled Lyon with a
cudgel on the floor of the house Both
men were outrageously at fault but
partisanship caused the Federalists to
defend Griswold and attack Lyon, and
vice versa. Lyon was in jail when the