When I purchased this car the previous owner had a friend install his rear struts.
the tighter coils on the passenger side where down and on the drivers side they where up.
So...what way is the right way?

The tighter coils are supposed to be up.

I just checked three different Escorts and they are all (tighter coils) down.

OK, sorry don't get than many escorts but I was going from the cars around here. Mostly imports here.