Free speech is at stake. The reformers counterpose speech with democracy.
Free speech is the condition of the perfection of democracy.
It cannot serve the ends of free government to weaken its predicate. Without a guaranteed right of free speech, democratically elected governments can, have, and will become oppressive. Without it they can exercise the tyranny of the majority over minorities and individuals, silencing those who express unpopular opinions or who write books, paint pictures, or make films offensive to majority taste. You can argue that flat or round. Perhaps many people don't vote because there is not enough political speech.