TaÌˆgliches Cincinnatier volksblatt. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1885-1919, 1915-05-08
Cincinnati Enquirer. May ~
THE PEOPLE SHOULD BE KEPT
FULLY INFORMED on PUBLIC
AFFAIRS.

The people Of Great Britain won the
right to free speech and free press
through the efforts OF many centuries,
and they never will give that right up,
They fought the battle OF the worlds
populations in their struggle for these
necessities Of free people. and they arc
ressntfu at the military and eivie
authorities who have taken II upon
themselves TO censor the news from the
fields OF battle, and 20 withhold from
them full details OF public affairs. They
are justified in this resentment. il the
masses OF the people of Great Britain
had known prior to the breaking out
OF this war that the German Kaiser had
offered TO Great Britain that II II would
guarantee the neutrality OF Belgium and
France that he, the Kaiser, would then
withdraw his troops from the frontiers
Of Belgium and France, and that France
would have nothing TO fear-if the
masses OF the people OF Great Britain
had known Of this offer, and had been
given time TO consider II, this war would
have never involved either Great Britain.
France or Belgium.
As II was, three members OF the
British Cabinet, members who were
fully aware of this proposition Of the
Kaiser, voted against the war, and
resigned from office rather than favor
Is. II is no wonder then that British
public leaders and the British people are
becoming louder in their loud demands
for removal OF the muzzles Of the pres'
nnd for the publication Of news as 1t is
received aud without coloring TO suit the
British Ministry.
The British people are strong enough
and brave enough to Withstand tho
effects Of III tidinRs from the battle
fields. and they are patriotic enough TO
rise to highest heights OF sacrifice to
preserve their country, but they are too
intelligent, too desirous OF maintaining
free Government, TO submit TO the
Withholding OF news; too fond OF the
whole truth to accept news filtered
through a censorship that tells only part
Of the truth, and that the part which
quits the Government.
This evil practice OF the British
Ministry and its subservient censors has
been followed too closely by our own
State Department as regards events In
Mexico and our relations with other
foreign countries.
The people OF the United States are
the Government In this republic. Off
eials, temporarily in position, are their
servants, not their masters, their In.
structors, nor keepers Of their con-
science.
II is the people Of the United States
who should be fully informed by these
public servants as TO public business
both ct home and abroad, and 1t is the
people Of the United States who should
be regarded and consulted as 10 policies
to be pursued in our relations with
foreign Powers. II is time the people
Of the United States should know what
reply has been received from the silie'
as TO the seizure Of our ships under the
British "ordcr of council"
When the full Information as to tho
injury done the Gulflight is received IT
should be Published, that our people
may know the facts and who wera
the perpetrators OF the outrage.
II Japan is threatening China and
our rights in that country,
or attempting anything In defiance oil
our treaties with japan or with China,
the people Of the United States are the
ones interested, not alone oar officials,
and our people should be kept fully in
formed
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