Ultimate Overthrow of Despotism.
It has been aptly remarked by a French writer that "Authority reigns ill when liberty suffers." The
Lincoln Administration will soon, find the illustration of this truth in its attempt to gag the press and hold thought captive.
Liberty can be chained, as in
Maryland, but it is always aiming to break its chains, and it always succeeds sooner or later, for its oppressors "struggle against the truth of things and the need of the times." The representative of a party professing to be devoted to the freedom of the human body has signalised himself beyond all men in
America by enforcing shackles on the human mind.
Scarcely a newspaper or a press in his dominions, nor a Congressman in the chamber which registers his edicts, except the bold and honest
Vallandigham, has dared even to utter a lament over the grave of Liberty.
But the greatest Power, and Glory, even if
Lincoln could achieve them, instead of defeat and disgrace, cannot make Liberty, though in her grave, forgotten.
Even
Napoleon III.
long ago comprehended that plots and dangers are not best avoided by restrictions upon freedom of the press and of speech.
He has removed the fetters which were once placed on the
French Press and
Chambers, and the
United States President has picked them up and calls them Republican jewels.
The day is not distant when the pent up indignation of an oppressed people will produce an explosion that will shake the throne of the vulgar despot more terribly than could the mine he has himself prepared under the
Capitol, were the torch applied to it.