The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-11-11
the surface. The Times says:

property, the violence to per-
sons is ineXcusable in a country
governed by law and the author
ties of our sister city should be
held to stern account for not
nipping the disturbance in the
bud before it had assumed the
proportions of a riot. Also it
shou not be difficult to find the
leaders of the rioters, and to
inflict upon them the penalties
of the law. In a decent, or
derly community such manifes-
tations are to be not only de-
plored but put down with the
strong hand.
The Times further takes up the
other side of the case, and says thai
while the above is true
it does not les
sen in the slightest degree the
heavy responsibility of Detec-
tive Robert Wilson and the
people who were responsible
for last nights meeting. They
understood fully the menace to
the peace that they incurred,
for the meeting had been sched-
uled before and postponed for
that very reason. 1t was gen.
orally understood that the ad-
dress to be delivered by Wilson
was the same that he delivered
to an audience in a Congrega-
tional church in North Scran-
ton few weeks ago."
AS to the speech complained Of
The Times says it has reason to be-
lieve that it is
unprintable, un-
speakable, almost unthinkable,
1t is a vile attack upon the Ca
tholic clergy, the Catholic sis
terhoods, Catholic organiZa-
tions and Catholic 1aity. It's
whole aim is to arouse rank
prejudice of their Protestant
neighbors against Catholic peo-
pie who are going their way,
leading honest and respectable
lives, respecting and not inter-
fering with the religious be-
lief of their neighbors."
The Times further voices it's senti
ments and concludes as. follows:
1--WE are strong believers in
the constitutional right of Gree
dom of speech" but the consti-
tuition also provides that the
speaker must be responsible for
the abuse thereof, and Detec-
tive Robert Wilson should be
held strictly responsible for the
villainous slanders which he is
N q n in
manner behind closed doors, be-
fore audiences who ought to
blush for shame because they
sat and listened to such vile
ness.
This is polyglot nation in
which people of all nations and
all creeds are thrown together
in melting pot to produce the
American of the future. The
constitution of the United States
guarantees to all of us freedom
to worship God according to the
dictates of their conscience.
We have been living together
as neighbors in peace and amity,
and should continue so to live
through all the years to come.
The man who seeks to destroy
that peace and amity by infus-
ing the poison of religious
bigotry and prejudice, and set
ting up the spirit of antagonism
and strife among people of dif-
ferent creeds, is a traitor to
thls republic and its institu- T
tions."
To sum up the matter, it would
seem that Mr.. Wilson was unwise in
making such addresses; that those
who engaged in the act of wreckine
church building are guilty of &
great breach Of the peace; that ever
If some people are unwise enough t.
make infammatory speeches it IL
equally unwise for other people who
agree or disagree with them to ever
listen to such speeches or to congre
gate about the building where sucl
utterances are being made.
AS to the right to explain one'l
view or belief before a private au
dience, opinions may differ. Here il
how Rev. Charles Lee, D. D., of Car
bondale, views that phase of tn,
question:
"The riot of Friday night
was a disgrace to us in the eyes
of the state and the nation. 1t
is something to cause every cit
izen to think profoundly. / and
some of the other clergy of the
city were not taken into the
plans of those who invited, Mr..
Wilson to speak in our city.
But / believe he was entirely
within his legal rights in ut
tering his convictions before a
private audience. The wisdom
of having him come is a matter
which each must judge for him
self. The lawlessness, destruc-
ton of property and assault on
persons should be strongly con-
demned by everyone"
Others may differ with Mr.. Le'