Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-01-11

be dissipatcd only by the clear rays al
reason following whatever form of exprcs.
| sion. AS contrasted with our own coun-
| try, Russia to-day stands forth a vivid
| example OF the effect of suppressed opin-
ION. Discomfort would better burn than
shoulder. The continuous Kissing Of Of
| 'onslVo gases escaping is not pleasant,
| put IL is INFINITELY preferable to the other
wise inevitable explosion Yet more i'm
portnnt more vital to the perinanence OF
| a government OF whole people by them
selves, is absolute freedom of expression.
| Upon that all depends Restrict it or
| create the impression in suspicious minds
that it is being restricted ana You sow
the wind.
With this general dictum few, if any.
would have the hardihood to disagree.
But IT is often and, / regret to say. truly
urged that liberty is subvertod to IL
ccnsc. Freedom of speech freedom of
publicity, yes; all admit the wisdom and
necessity OF preserving both But how fro
quently is added. especially by men i'm
public Office, a vigorous defamation
against unfair criticism" and how al
most daily is uttered. sometimes a violent
ana unwarranted, sometimes "A dignincd
and iustihable. protest against invasion
Of privacy" "encroachments upon por-
sOnal rights" and like offences. Only
those behind the curtain of the editorial
sanctum can fully appreciate the pro-
portion Of insinccrity contained in tho
virtuous avowalS of shy and retiring.
though weak and human beings Of both
sexes. In nine cases out of ten, the most
vocfcrous protest may he attributed safe
ly 20 sclf-sufficiency, snobbshncSs or a
guilty conscience. There is so little OF
malice in American newspapers as to be
unworthy Of notice, but it is unqucstion-
ably true that too little heed is paid to
the fact that unwlful misrepresentation
is often quite as serious in effect
Worst of all is the refusal to rectif;
a known error Cursed be the man who
initiated the policy Of never making 4 re- !
traction in the columns of his journal f.
Tho mere fact that an individual, wheth- I.
pr right or wrong Is virtually voicclcss .
md helpless in controversy with a news /
paper should ana docs morally vest him
with the right to exceptional consi1era-
ton. \ lie once started can never be +
stopped; but the ono responsible for it's
circulation, directly or indirectly, who
'ails to exert every possible cudoavor
q that end is unworthy Of association
with decent men. An American newspaper
should be an American gentleman.
TO sec tho right is Genius-to do it is
'ouraCc. Unite tho two under the ban
lor of sane idoalism, and the Amcri
nm now paper will become second only
- Christianity among Gods agencies for
he uplifting of humanity.
col. Harvey was heartily conCratu-
atcd at the close OF his admirable adj
'rcSS
Principal G. If. Bunker was then called
ipon and paid a glowing tribute to Col.
Iarvcy as did Editor Munro. who fol-
owed him. collector G. IT, Darling
old story and tho exercises came to
close shortly before eleven o'clock,
NEWSPAPER MEN PRESENT.
The Vermont newspaper mon at the
banquet were McsSrs. Greene ana Forbes
" So. Albaus. Walter and Stone of st.
IohusburN, Langley of Barre, Howe of
webb and Mutt of Montpe-
ior. johnson Of Randolph, Lewis of
Iydo Park, Hays Of Essex Junction,
amason and Cummings of White River
Parker of Bradford, Bennett
# Manchester, Fletcher of Swanton.
.icCucn of NerEcnncs, stiles Of Spring.
icld, Whitohili Of Waterbury, and Aud.
lark, benedict, Howe. Southwict,
}iEclow and Gates Of Burlington.
others We're \. NJ. Kicker of 81. Johns ,
Jury. j. w. Fowler of Manchester S :.
'allJrd Of Montpelier and II. \. LEngle
f Boston.
Dining the afternoon and carly even
ne md again after the banquet the ,
l,inhors of the association were tho