Page:History of Journalism in the United States.djvu/207

Rh thority of the government; and in case of war and invasion by the French, to join them."

"The matchless effrontery of this Duane," wrote back Adams in August, 1799, "merits the execution of the Alien Law. I am very willing to try its strength on him." This is hardly the temper of a guileless President being imposed on by the wicked Hamilton, as some of his biographers picture him.

Duane absorbed much of the attention of the distinguished President and his Secretary of State, all of which would go to show that they were as eager to prosecute under the Alien and Sedition Acts as any of the Federalist Congressmen had been to put them upon the books. In Duane's case Adams felt a particular interest, for he afterwards said that Bache and Duane had directed their criticism against him, not because of the principles he was identified with, but because he had, in his negotiations with France, antagonized Dr. Franklin, who had come to hate him.

Not even the presence of yellow fever, which was again severe in 1799, prevented the furious political war. To add to this, the passage of the Alien and Sedition Laws led to disorder, not only in Philadelphia but in othersections of the country. Duane, who had taken an active part in the endeavor to have petitions signed for the repeal of the laws, was indicted for seditious writings. Several months later he was set upon and beaten. Democrats gathered around the office of the Aurora, ready to fight those who had attacked Duane, if they returned. One Democrat visited the office of the younger Fenno, editor of the Gazette, and assaulted him.