The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1901-10-11
FREEDOM or SPEECH


allowance of vituperative abuse
during the last campaign, gives
the following views on the restric.
ton of free speech:
First, because the evils of.restric-
ton are greater than the evils of
freedom, and second, because abuse
does not hurt the mau or party
made the subject of attack. The
death of President Nc Kinley cannot
be traced to anything ever spoken
or written against him. The assas-
sin spoke affectionately of his VIC
tim and said that he killed him not
because of his dislike for the man
but because of his opposition to
government of any kind. Some who
are engaged in schemes which will
not bear the light will shield them
selves behind the murderous deed
of the assassin and denounce free
dom of speech because they do not
want the public to be informed of
their doings. Others, stirred by a
righteous indignation, strike at free
speech because some have abused
the latitude allowed. It is time for
liberty-loving citizens to protest
against the attempt to suppress
free speech. The warfare must be
against anarchy, not against free
dom of speech. Anarchy is an Eu-
ropean product and thrives most
where there is least freedom of
speech and freedom of the press.
Let us not make the mistake of un-
desmining our institutions under
the delusion that we are thus pro-
tecting those institutions.
Free speech and free press are
essential to free government. No
man in public life can object to the
publication of the truth, and no
man in public life is permanently
injured by the publication of lie.
That much is published that should
not be is only too evident, but let
public opinion correct the evil; that
will be more effective than law aad
will bring no danger with it. If a
paper abuses a political opponent
stop your subscription and teach
the editor to conduct his paper on
respectable lines. There is a sense
of justice in the human heart and
he who violates it violates it at his
own peril. This sense of justice ul-
timately turns abuse to the benefit
of the man abused. The present
laws against Islander and libel are
sufficient; leave the rest to healthy
public sentiment-and then help to
create the sentiment.
THE manner in which the game
laws are being enforced and the
rules of the department applied are
evidence enough that no mistake
was made when the executive agent
was chosen. During the admins
tration of Mr.. Beutner very little
was heard of the game warden for
the reason that very few attempts
were made to enforce the law. The
present chief warden, or executive
agent, as he is called, has prosecut-
ed every violation of the law that
came to his knowledge, absolutely
without reference to who the offend
ef might be, and while he has bro't
down upon his head the anathemas
of numerous violators of the law,
including, it is said, two or three of
his own deputies, he has taught the
people that as long as these laws
are on the statute books and he is
charged with their enforcement,
they will be extraordinarily Bull
letin, Republican State Central Com
mittee.
Reads well-very we'll; but could
the "protected" game of these iron
ranges and northern country realize
the earnest solicitude for their vel
fare they would wonder that game
has been and continues to be slaugh-
tered without regard to law in any
particular. But of course the hire
ling either knows of what he writes
or knows enough to hold his job
which is doubtless of more import
ance to him than all the game in
the state, and one warden for a dis
trict large enough. for ten will con
tinue to assist the chief executive
to wear the laurels heaped upon
him, with becoming grace.
THE editorialist of the Republican
State Central Committees: Weekly
Bulletin evidently does not relish
some of the "bot tamales" being
thrown at his illusions by the re-
publican press of the state, but very
wrongly and perhaps very inten
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