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The Peril of the Republic of the United States of America - Percy T. Magan

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prophetic millennium-- can not safely be permitted<br />

to hear a single whisper against <strong>the</strong> system under<br />

which <strong>the</strong>y live. It requires no skilful interpreter to<br />

translate <strong>the</strong>se forebodings <strong>of</strong> danger into<br />

confessions <strong>of</strong> tyranny. What are we to think <strong>of</strong> a<br />

system which, as its advocates tell us, can not be<br />

discussed without inciting insurrection? What,<br />

again, are we to think <strong>of</strong> a system under which<br />

insurrections, as its advocates also tell us, can not<br />

be suppressed without massacre? Look at <strong>the</strong><br />

punishments inflicted a few years back on <strong>the</strong><br />

insurgents <strong>of</strong> Barbadoes, and recently on those in<br />

Demerara. Where, in <strong>the</strong> whole history <strong>of</strong> modern<br />

Europe, shall we find an instance in which <strong>the</strong><br />

destruction <strong>of</strong> so large a proportion <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

population has been deemed necessary for <strong>the</strong><br />

safety <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> survivors? <strong>The</strong> British subjects <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

New World have outdone, immeasurably outdone,<br />

all <strong>the</strong> military despots, all <strong>the</strong> fanatic Jacobins, <strong>of</strong><br />

<strong>the</strong> Old. <strong>The</strong>ir tender mercies are more cruel than<br />

<strong>the</strong> vengeance <strong>of</strong> Dundee; <strong>the</strong>ir little fingers are<br />

thicker than <strong>the</strong> loins <strong>of</strong> Alva. Robespierre<br />

chastised with whips, but <strong>the</strong>y chastise with<br />

scorpions. But we are told that this is not wanton<br />

219

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