I may as well quote the following words with which Benjamin Franklin closed his satirical essay, "Rules for Reducing a Great Empire to a Small One," which he dedicated to the English government in 1776: "Suppose all their (the 'kickers') complaints to be inverted, and promoted by a few factious demagogues, whom if you could catch and hang, all would be quiet. Catch and hang a few accordingly; and the blood of the martyrs shall work miracles in favor of your purpose" (i. e., your own ruin). So, I say, society may hang a number of disciples of progress who have disinterestedly served the cause of the sons of toil which is the cause of humanity, but their blood will work miracles in bringing about the downfall of modern society, and in hastening the birth of a new era of civilization. Magna est veritas et prevalebet! ADOLPH FISCHER. A LETTER TO GOVERNOR OGLESBY Dear Sir--I, George Engel, citizen of the United States and of Chicago, and condemned to death, learn that thousands of citizens petition you as the highest executive officer of the State of Illinois, to commute my sentence from death to imprisonment. I protest emphatically against this on the following grounds: I am not aware of having violated any laws of this country. In my firm belief in the constitution which the founders of this republic bequeathed to this people and which remains unaltered, I have exercised the right of free speech, free press, free thought and free assemblage, as guaranteed by the constitution, and have criticised the existing condition of society, and succored my fellow-citizens with my advice, which I regard as the right of every honest citizen. The experience which I have had in this country, during the fifteen years that I have lived here, concerning the ballot and the administration of our public functionaries who have become totally corrupt, have eradicated my belief in the existence of equal rights of poor and rich, and the action of the public officers, police and militia have produced the firm belief in me that these conditions cannot last long. In accordance with this belief I have taught and advised. This I have done in good faith of the rights which are guaranteed by the constitution, and, not being conscious of my guilt, the "powers that be" may _murder_ me, but they cannot _legally punish_ me. I protest against a commutation of my sentence and demand either liberty or death. I renounce any kind of mercy. Respectfully, GEORGE ENGEL. AN OPEN LETTER.