The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-04
Wednesday,, March 4, 1908.
THE AGITATOR.


 press which MT. Stone says is the source of political freedom the world over, and it comedies liberty of speech. These are priceless blessings, but they are not licenses issued to meE to per init them to make headway in either a lawless or disturbing manner The social law lays down the doctrine that mans rights begin. When this is ap- piled, as it should be applied, to the right of free speech, it reads that the right of one man to give free utter ance to the thoughts and convictions which move him is circumscribed by the right of his neighbor to be pro tected against the evil consequences of incendiary speech.
 Just at present the abuse of free speech is breeding a murderous lot of cranks Sunday one of them killed priest at Denver from a hatred of re- ligion, which he had doubtless heard reviled and held responsible for the ills of society On the next day anoth- CT undertook to murder the chief of police of the city of Chicago. It has been well said that in one case if was the arm of the unruly striking at the
  church and in the other the arm of the unruly striking at organized gov ernment A day or two ago a New Britain priest was warned to be care- full how he condemned the principles of socialism or he might expect to lose his life. He has attempted to restrict and control the effect upon the thoughtless of the wild and reckless assertions of cunning agitators seek ing to take advantage of the period of depression. Doubtless if one had the time to carefully scan the pages of the newspapers of the country as they come from the presses of every town and city, it would be discovered that everyw lere these disturbing eon- sequences ol the abuse of the freedom of speech are matters of frequent rec ord The fever of denunciation appears to have spread to the corners of the earth, and authority and government hn to ,f uylYia the agitator shoots his poisonous darts. We have only to deal with the mani7 festation as i; appears here in this country and that makes it urgent to deal with the evil. not from any mis- taken notion of the inherent right of an American citizen, if he be one, or a guest of the constitution, if he be that, to manufacture hot air it will as crudely representing freedom of speech, but as a blow directed at the peace and contentment of the people.
 Emma Goldman, q leader among the aggressive anarchists. filings back the charge that the actors in the re- cent assault against the church and government belong to the party of an- archy, just as the members of the so- cialist party deny that they are justly to be held responsible for social dis turbances of fretting character. There is no necessity for quarrelling with them over that fine distinction There are in the world anarchists of refinement and education, just as there are socialists, who are peacefully but enthusiastically laboring to improve the condition of the human family, and because there are such men and wo- men the fight for law and order should be carried on against all law less agitators. That term is sufficient to cover the offenders to be reached without unnecessarily stirring parti- san passion, which may turk in un- suspected quarters In other words, Alit Slludtttii tdiicr tti oi uukdtipildi campaign, instituted and carried on if necessary by the court, as a result of which the right of free speech will he better understood and appreciated The peoples sense of humor restraints them from enforcing their authority to correct loosened tongue upon ev- cry occasion They wisely let the av- craze outdoor orator have his say. Their sense of proportion. on the oth- CT hand. demands that all outdoor agi- tators shall see to it, that in preach ing the gospel which holds them they stop this side of provoking a lawless demonstration The mere denial of the power of government is excuse enough for stopping the flow of incendiary language. A second denial is warrant enough and 10 spare to place the of- fender where he can do no harm. If the source of the murderous instinct, as gre ses it exemplihed in the mur- sAr of the Denver priest. in the at