The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-12-10
FREE SPEECH AND ANARCHY.

States in ordering the deportation OF the
English anarchist, one Turner. Speakers
declared that the statute under which Tur-
ner is to be deported is infamous and
its enforcement "tyrannous.' The speak
ers personally disclaimed belief in anarchy
but grew violent in their denunciation
of policy that would check the "illimit-
able freedom of the human mind" Com
menting upon the meeting and the Ut
terances, the Washington Star sensibly
says:
What difference is there between the
men who preach the red theories and
| those who plead for their right to preach
| them? The statute which declared that
no man shall be permitted to remain here
who does not believe in organized gov
eminent, under which Turner is to be
deported, stands as the expression OF pop
ular will. 1t is the law, the mandate
of the majority, the essence of Tree gov
ernnment. The first law of nature is
self-defense, and similarly the first law
OF government is protection from those
who would destroy it's foundations.
Free speech, free thought, free theori-
zing-these are all fundamental rights.
But they are modified by the require
ments of society. No man shall step forth
and in the exercise of free speech denounce
his innocent neighbor as a thief or a
murderer. No man shall destroy his own
home. No man has absolute rights re-
CARELESS of the rights Of others. 1t being
the wish of ma jority of the inhabitants
Of this country to live under a certain
form of government, it is the right OF
no man to undertake to undermine that
form of government, merely because he
as an individual entertains diverse views.
Speech is free only so long as it does
not threaten the peace and safety of the
mass of the people. Speech is dangerous
when it proclaims doctrines subversive
Of order and peace. The man who asks
for unlimited speech, for license of ut
terance, as distinguished from freedom
of speech, is himself as great menace
to the public safety as the wretch who
waves the red flag and screams out his
denunciation of all forms of rule and
order. If this country cannot, in the
execution of formally expressed will
of the people, expel dangerous intruder,
it may as we'll issue an invitation to
all the cranks and reactionaries and Grim
inal theorists of all countries to come
here and set up their standard of agita-
ton and revolution"
The preaching of anarchy is no more
destructive of government than preach
ing against caste and race inferiority
| in the South (when discussing the race
problem) is destructive of Southern civil
lization. If professor in a Southern
| college holds and publishes the views
that would destroy the racial purity and
dominance of the white man in the South
he is more dangerous to Southern peace
than any preacher of anarchy would
be. Here race harmony, prosperity and
the good of. both races demand the Pc
petuity of race separation and the lead
ership, in justice to both races, of South
ern white men. Is it not undermining
the foundation of all that the South holds
most dear for a college professor to voice
the sentiment contained in these three
quotations from Prof. Bassett's article
He wrote,
1.-THE "place'' of every man in our
American life is such a one as his VIZ
tues and his capacities may enable
him to take. Not even black skin
and fiat nose can justify caste III
this country.
81 am persuaded that it is in many
respects the old conflict between Ro-
ID Do ,.to
again.
"As long as one race contends Tor the
absolute inferiority of the others the
struggle will go on with ever increas-
ing intensity
/ Isn't that teaching social and racial
anarchy. Is it any worse to demand
that the man who teaches social anarch!
shall quit instructing Southern youth
than to deport European anarchists who
come to these shores? Which will do the
least harm in North Carolina-a red
nouthed anarchist, wildly advocating thu
professor who writes that the race con
ficts will end as the conflict ended be
tween the Patricians and Plebeians-by
linter-marriage?
The Washington Star is right. The an
archist ought to be deported. What ne
calls free speech is license.
The minority of the trustees OF Trinity
College are right. DR.. Bassett ought moi
to teach history to Southern boys.
The two cases are on all tours, and to in
woke the spirit of liberty of thought tc
excuse or palliate license is the height o.
absurdity. Old man Jefferson would turr
over in his grave if he thought kilgoisn
was trying to hide it's dangerous teach
ings behind his plea for the ''illimitabl,
liberty of the human mind"