The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-05-08
Herndon, Va.

webster Was Also Accused Of Hold
Ing That the AbOlishment Of slaV-
cry Was UneOnstItutionaL
To the Editor Of THE TINES:
have read with the keenest OF In
terest and profoundest appreciation
your logical and unansweraole edi-
torial in defense Of the full and per-
feet freedom Of the press. Our revolu-
tionary fathers in the pioneer and
wilderness days Of this Republic
thoroughly understood what the
abridEement Of the press meant to .
free people. And that is why the free
dom of the press enjoys constitutional
recognition. There are four i'm
portant forces underlying free gov
eminent. The first Of these is the
prevalence Of the idea Of national
unity. The second Is the universal
secular education Of the people. Inc
| third is observation-disclosures IN the
broadest and most glorious sense.
The fourth idea essential to the well
fare, longevity, and stability OF re-
public is, the absolute unabridgement
and perfect freedom Of the press
The constitutionality OF this and
that seems to be resolving itself
wholly upon the question as to whose
OK is Rored. So long a. IL was the
| other fellows the metropolitan press
was contented to let II pass.
thought at the pace you were riding
that you would eventually run across
a cyclopIc impeachment We all have
| our constitutional oxen. Mine was
being Eored when "selective conscrip'
/ ton" was passed.
That was all right. The metropoh-
| tan press favored II.
| The disposition to view the Consti-
tuition and construe II through per-
sonalIy interested colored tense, IL
getting TO be, not only too common,
but too pronounced. You have learn
ed perhaps by this time that const-
tutional violators will not always
| gore the other fellows OK. Having
ENCOURAGED them in the matter OF Vio,
lating the constitutionals opinions oil
others, you have the unsatisfactory
| spectacle Of seeing your own OF gor-
ed to the core.
The matter Of disregarding the Con-
| stitution commences upon a miniature
plan and keeps up the work until II
| reaches gigantic proportions. The
| Constitution Is a great and wonder
| full instrument II Is lntenueu 10 pIO-
tect the common interest Of US all
Only until 1t fell into the hands OF
specialists" and "eIpertS did II
come into pre-eminent danger.
The metropolitan press can do much
in disseminating proper conceptions
of the Constitution among the people
II It will only keep itself free from
the nominations OF private interests
Only when the press OF the countr5
falls asleep, and becomes Indifferent
10 the public welfare, is society In
danger Of constitutional disregard
relapse, and barblrism.
! want your editorial Differentiation
between The constitutlonality OF Sc
lective CONSUMPTION and the unconsti'
tutionality Of the abridgement of tho
press. Daniel Webster said In hi
masterfuT speech on conscription II
the House of Representatives De
cember o, 1914, that conscription wal
unconstitutional" You can find tho
speech in volume IL Of webster
Speeches and Writings"
| I want TO emphasize my Request
for YOU to review. editorially, the two
great questions under consideration
pointing out why the one is constitu
tional and the other Is not
w NJ HAIRSTON,