Omaha daily bee., 1916-01-29
FOR a Free Press.

INDIANOLA. Neb.. Jan. N.-To the
Editor of The Bee; Our attention was
called by a neighbor. who said, you are
able to answer this and we want you to
do IT." to an article in Metcalfe's Me-
braskan entitled Religious Liberty"
when in fact II should have been entitled
Religious Tyranny" for that is its aim
and substance.
We have known Mr.. Metcalfe for years
and have supported him and his IDEAS for
fourteen years, but such an unjust and
unreasonable article settles II with us for
ever. II has lowered him In fairness.
liberty and Justice at least % per cent In
our estimation: besides any one entertain
ing such an idea is not q safe person to
be trusted in public affairs. and his coun-
Gil is dangerous with such brain leaks as
that. We have always had It In mind
that Metcalfe favored free speech. and.
being an editor. favored a rree press, but
his article proves the opposite.
Metcalfe's article opposes anyone saying
anything against another's religion.
Where would our religious liberty be to-
day had It not been for Luther and many
other fearless ones taking the stand they
did? The dark ages. the inquisitions.
religious wars and massocres. witchcraft.
that caused the lives of 900 women
and children. would still be here were Il
not for the lovers OF liberty with feeling
for the interests Of the human race. and
II Mr.. Metcalfe knows anything he knows
n Russia. Spain. Portugal, the Central
and South American states were allowed
free religious discussion those countries
would not be buried in ignorance. nor
would the religious fanatics of Russia
have banished $4,000 Jews less than thirty
years ago.
Metcalfe intimates that a writer should
respect the religious feeling OF others.
but does not even hint that religionists
do likewise. Let me say right here that
no ones feelings can be hurt too much
who favors such things or whose doctrine
is so weak. though backed by thousands
OF preachers, priests, a host OF aid so
cieties, their Bible Jesus and God, and
cannot stand a few criticisms OF the out
side world II Metcslfe don't know that
much he had better inform himself before
oondemning the free press.
Metcalfe knows. were not the democrats
allowed free discussion on the republican
high tariff. and on their favoritism shown
the interests. and the like. the @. o. p.
would still run the government. Invesu-
cation and free discussion are the chief
sources OF information. D. a religion
or any other ism that gets offended at
or can't stand Investigation or free dis
cussion
Metcalfe made another bad break when
he said mo mans competent 10 pass on
anothers religion." II this be true he
should advise the preachers not to attack
the entire world. their own little CLIQUE
excepted. II does not require much sense
70 see. II man breaches the golden rule
and practices the opposite. that It isn't
pure and undefiled religion" he pos
sesses but religious hypocrisy. and Net
calfes article favors such hypocrisy or he
would not oppose Just criticism on re-
ligious mattera
Metcaifes article Il an insult to the
| freedom OF the press and q menace 10
our free institutions. and would place a
gag upon those who are liberal. fair and
court new ideas. because his article says
50. II also shows he IL with those who
believe In the doctrine. IF q man be