Year: 1873

AGITATION.


All countries, embracing all forms OF
government, are blessed OF cursed with
agitators-men who are known disturbers
| Of the public mind. Under despotisms,


where the will of the sovereign is abso-
solute and frequently unyielding 70 the


reasonable demands made for the correc.


ton Of widespread public abuses, when a


q real danger confronts the agitator. when


be really agitates for the public good, the


work may not only be regarded with
favor, but there is . heroism in the


conduct of such an agitator that can


not fail to challenge the adnira-
ton and respect Of oil lovers of
well regulated liberty throughout the
world In countries where despotisms


are really fixed upon the people by lineage,


and the rod Of empire" descends from


father to son, he is truly brave man who


assumes the character Of an agitator and


goes forth to teach the people how to rid


themselves Of despot they have learned


to fear and hate. There is a virtue in


being an agitatoY under such circum-


stances which the world-or that portion


Of il which respects free government


never fails to recognize. Under all des-


potic governments the fate of first class


agitato0is certain martyrdom. Second,


third and fourth rate agitators may be


suffered to disturb the public mind to


small extent. but if even they become too


annoying the despot will find an easy way


Of silencing them. They are generally


made to leave their country fo1 their


country's good. This is the invariable
fate of agitators in countries that are gov
erned by despotic rule. And for this
reason agitators are comparatively very
scarce there.


The agitator-we mean tho noisy
agitator who confronts no danger,
and agitates without cause SO far as pop
ula1 government is conceYned-fou1ishe
and has the most perfect freed ON and
exemption from responsibility under that
government which is most free. This is
fully exemplifed in our own country
where every town, city, parish and State
of the United States supports score or
two Of agitators, and nothing is thought
Of it. The people are bat seldom violent
ly disturbed by the agitators, and the
agitators are never disturbed by
the government. They have carte
blanche to say wha: they please of their
rulers, and they indulge in this free
dom at all times, and often with ven
geance to themselves. The swarms Of
agitators. big and little, that so roaring
through our country, denouncing its gov
eminent and laws and those who have
been chosen to administer them tempo
rarily, is the best Of evidence that this is
q free country. The agitator can say here
without fear of danger that which, if said
in country ruled by despot, would in
evitably cost him his head. This fact
may not entitle him to the same credit in
the eyes of those who admire a daunt-
less spirit, as the agitator who says the
same thing in country where there is
danger. But our agitator is not prone to
see himself in this light. He will insist
that there is danger, and proceeds to face
i like a first-class hero. He would
fain make the people believe that
be, like Cerberus, the three-headed |
log of Pluto, which guarded the gate of |
Hades, was on watch, guarding the temple |
If freedom. "Yes," says our free born
sgitator in the land where agitators have
40 fear Of danger from despots, 81. is |
ny pleasure, reveling in what I conceive
% be the pleasure Of freedom, to denounce
reely whatever dislike"


This is o political right that has never
been disputed in this country; and, there
ore, the agitator Of the present day,
whose labor now consists in making
var upon Republican administration,
loes not hesitate to charge all man
,er of crime upon Republican officials.
The President, Congress and the Supreme
Jourt-the three coordinate branches Of |
he national and paramount government
re freely denounced by the irresponsible
gitator, and the people seriously told
hat they are living under a detestable
lespotism. If the people were less intel
igent they might possibly be gulled by
he agitators Of the present day. We
now that it requires constant vigilance
N the part of the people to keep the
government out of the hands Of men
Who once plotted to overthrow it, and
re now intriguing to get control Of it
gain. And as the people have been
vatchful since 1860 and stood by the gov
rnment Of their choice through the
loomiest days Of the republic, so We be-
eve they will be watchful and stand by
he Republican party so long as it is true
0 the principles of free government. We
o not pretend to say that the Republican
arty has not committed errors, but do
ay its administration of the government
as been generally good.


TIE COMMISSIONER NUISANCE.


Tho Nau XorE J|c~pyJ &c racpo,c,1,lc fo, |