Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-29

the suppression OF free speech
Onlclals are prone to forget that
they are the servants. not the masters.
OF the people. The people them elves
may forget II and may begin 70 do
wnht their assumed masters have sold
them 10 do. In direct contravcntion of
inc theory OF our government and In
absolute disregard OF It's only reason
Tor existence. That reason Is the IN
alienable right of any free people 10
ordain and establish a form OF goN-
ernmcnt In which the popular vote
instructed and enlightened from every
source possible. shall give direction in
matters of public policy and in the
enactment of laws. The threat, more
or less concealed. To deny to any citi-
zen either the absolute privilege or an
American to state freely his Views upon
any public question. or to prevent him
from pursuing his chosen vocation. by
withholding from his family the plltry
salary with which he strives TO feed,
clothc and educate them-what Is this
but the basest betrayal of the most
sacred. because the most fundamental
duty Of any and all officeholdcrs?
Wherever the federal Constitution ana
the laws OF any American common
wealth have been united In that d.
vinely ordered harmony which guar
antees individual freedom OF speech
and action. and especially insurcs the
of legislation. let no official claiming
to be an upholder OF the ideals of this
republic. so pervcrt and abuse his DOW
er as to silence political opinion or ns
the least degree to hamper its free
expression.
RIGHT AND PROPRIETY
The only Limitation that can Justly
be urged to this natural and legally
guaranteed freedom of speech and ac-
ton, Is that the expression OF political
opinions shall be made only In those
places and at those times that have
been reserved or appointed for this
right to express ones political views,
II he docs this in a meeting called for
public worship or in any other place
in which people have convened for
some other purpose. as at funeral
In a stock directors meeting. in a
school. OF In a factory. Any doctor
minister. lawyer. farmer. teacher
banker, may freely express his Views
on public questions as a matter of
right. As a matter OF proprIety min
listers may sometimes prefer to With
hold their Views, so may teachers or
physicians. But as a matter of right
and duty, any citizens conduct will be
blameless and praiseworthy, if, at the
appointed time and place he candidly
If, in so doing, he discloses the polite
ness and consideration of a gentleman
and the research and learning OF a
scholar.
Today in all parts of our country
members of the teaching profession are
freely participating with all others In
public discussions of political qucs-
tions, as witness the part taken by
them on this important program 1
congratulate the management of the
Municipal league that 1t never occur
red to them to exclude members of
this humble vocation simply because
they were teachers.
No class can be excluded in a aoy-
ernment of. for and by the people; and
though there are some, even among
our officials, who do not believe IN
trusting the people. who think that our
Democratic-Republica form of gov
ernment Is vast failure, and who |
look with longing eyes to the aristo- |
cratic monarchies of Europe as the
true types of human government. we
say to them 1t is all in vain. The re-
public Is here TO stay; II is no longer |
an experiment; with all its short |
comings, it Is still the best form of |
government yet devised by man. Our |
duty is simply to transmit unsulIiei |
and. II possible, strengthened this 20 |
markabe heritage of liberty and legal |
equality that was given to us and paid |
for by the blood of the martyrs of The |
Revolution.