The Lancaster news. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1905-current, 1916-04-28
TWO UN-AMERICAN BILLS
NOW BEFORE CONGRESS-

| HSeu. under this statute, as thus
defined not only may all such matter
be excluded from the mails, but any
one mailing such matter may be
prosecuted therefor in the Federal
courts, and If convicted may be pun
J ished by both fine and Imprisonment.
But the feature of this law that pre-
serves the freedom of the press is
that, in all such cases, the facts
must be passed upon by jury of
twelve men and not by one man.
who may be swayed by prejudice.
1t is asserted, and we have never
seen it contradicted, that the Ameri-
can Federation of Catholic Societies
is the leader in the effort to enact
these bills into laws and thus ham
per the freedom of the press. 1t
would seem that the Federation is
working to establish a definite Ro-
man Catholic domination over the
press of this country. A magazine
OF religious freedom entitled. "I,iber-
ty,' quotes from "The Great Encv-
cllcal Letters of Pope Leo XIII"
page 161, these words: "It is ouite
unlawful TO demand, to defend. or IN
grant unconstitutional freedom NJ
thought. of speech. or writing or of
worship as if these were so many
rights given by nature to man" II
also asserts that the convention of
the Federation in 1910 entered unon
a campaign to remove from the nub-
lie arena "books. papers writi,
and prints which outrage religions
convictions Of our (Catholic) citizens
ana contain scurrilous and SANDER
Gus attacks upon both"
The Roman Catholic definition os
the word, "scurrilous, might include
many reputable and truthful publi-
cations. For instance. "The Catho.
lie Columbian" in its issue of Aueust
Is, 1911, as quoted by Liberty ;,
branded the Protestant Magazine"
ana two other publications as lying
ana scurrilous publications"
If these laws should be enacted
there would evidently be a great cur-
tallment of the freedom OF discussion
in the press of America on religious
matters. The purpose of the whole
movement evidently is to suppress |
adverse criticism OF the dogmas Of
the Roman Catholic church.
The Catholic Tablet" which is
published in Mr.. Fitzgerald's district
give an extended write-up of his bill !
in its issue of January S. 1916 |
catholics were much disappointed !
because his bill introduced during
the last session Of congress failed TO
get out OF committee. This year
they are making great efforts to see
that it at least comes to a public |
reading an vote" In order to Sc
cure this result. "a nationwide cam
paign of letter writing. designed to /
let the members Of congress know
the extent Of the feeling in the fail
ure Of freeing the mails from filth.
is planed. Form letters are now 10
ing drawn up, which will be distri-
buted through various channels Of
the country. The letters are to be
sent to congressman both from in
dividuals and from Catholic organi-
cations"
Americans need to remember the
stirring words spoken by a states
man in 1900, on Liberty of Speech
and Of the Press" True liberty of
speech and of the press consists in
being free to speak, write, and print.
but being, as in the exercise Of other
liberties, responsible for the abuse
OF this liberty; and whether we have
abused this liberty or not, must, like
all other questions of right. be left
to the decision Of court and jury
This is the universal test by when
the exercise OF all our rights must be
tried"
In view OF the fact that the Roman
Catholics have instituted nation
wide campaign Of letter writing to
| their congressman. Protestants
should use the same privilege and
| protest against the enactment of
such unfair and un-American laws
| Christian Observer.