TaÌˆgliche Omaha tribuÌˆne. [volume] (Omaha, Nebr.) 1912-1926, 1917-08-09
Freedom ofSpeech and OfPreSS
Upon this Constitutional Right Depend the LibeT-
ties Of the American People.

cedent established when the
Socialist press was suppressed.
We cannot afford to have thai
kind of thing in this country.
The basis Of all our Liberties
is the liberty Of speaking and
of writing.
Briefly, clearly and specifcal.
lily the Constitution says: THE
Congress shall make no law
abridging the freedom Of speech
or the freedom Of the press
This language admits Of no
misunderstanding. The meaning
is as clear as sunlight. The
words are expressly mandatory.
The Congress can find no ex-
cuse, not even that Of military
necessity, for enacting a law
which in any way binders or
abridges the liberty Of speech
and of printing.
We do profoundly and earn
estly believe that the policy Of
suppressing newspapers which
are not in agreement with the
Government is an unconstitu-
tional policy and a dangerous
policy, the ultimate results Of
which may prove more dis
sstrous than even a defeat in
war.
The whole theory Of govern
ment suppression of an opposi-
ton press is fundamentally
wrong and fundamentally UNI
democratic. 1t is based upon
1.-THE assumption that whatever
the Government does is right
and that any opposition to the
policies Of the Government must,
therefore, necessarily be wrong,
and that what IS wrong should
not be permitted.
Now, this is exactly the
theory upon which every despot-
ism that has ever existed in the
world has been based. We can
mot afford to have such theories
as this established in our coun-
try. Essentially we are no
different from any other people
that has ever existed. II we
permit the foundation Of our
institutions Of liberty to be UNI
dermined, why, then, sooner or
later the edihce itself will fall.
We should, says The New
York American, strenuously
resist this propaganda OF
Government omniscience AMI
Government omnipotence.
We should strenuously resist
the propaganda that our Exc
cutive and our representatives
in Congress are our rulers, in
stead Of being our hired serv-
ants, whose business it is to
LOBBY and to execute the will OF
the people.
We should strenuously resist
any attempt and every attempt
..Iof our hired servants in Wash
ington to hinder free express
Ision and Individual opinion up
ion the ground that they are
more wise than the rest Of US,
and that they alone know what
is best for US to think and to
say.
/ Whenever the time comes
that any American citizen is not
absolutely safe in the free ex-
; pression of his opinion as to 20.
, licies Of government, then nc
one of us is safe.
The liberties Of all Of US arr
: bound up in the Liberties o.
E every one Of us, and all of Ii:
should resist in all places ana
S at all times any and every ag
: gression upon the rights of AM
lone Of us, whether the either
/ whose rights are threatened b
: . Republican, or a Democrat
or a Progressive, or a Socialist
or a Catholic, or a Protestant
or a Jew, or whatever may b,
his political or his religious be
! lief.
If we permit these aggression
upon the constitutional rights 0
citizens, which seem TO have be
4 come the fashion, to s5ntinu
and to grow in frequency an
force, it may easily happen tina
d our children viii not be a ire
people at all.
? These are not light matters
These are serious matters. An
e they should have the serioll
s consideration Of every one :
illus who is proud Of the story {
r.lnur country and mhn holds des