Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-07-28


structive criticism that the press may
pender Journalism may aid in the
preservation and promotion Of the
ideals u democracy, What are the
ideals of democracy? Whatever else
we may include within our definition,
certainly ii will contain a declaration
| for freedom of speech, spoken and
written, for the recognition of the
rights of minorities, for the freedom
of the individual nation to work out
its own destiny In its own way as a
national unit In a Observation-Disclosures
and for the freedom of the individual
man while social unit to work out
his own destiny In his own way, for
the recognition of the equal moral
worth of every man.
Press Freedom Most important.
With all these journalism is con-
cerned. Unto the preservation and
promotion of all 1t may lend aid In
valuable. But with the first Is its
primary concern. Indeed, freedom of
written and spoken speech enwraps
them all. He whose mouth Is stopped
around whose brain an iron band Of
autocratic rule is placed, may never
rise to the full stature of democratic
strength and opportunity. Freedom of
speech is of interest not merely to the
press The press Is but the outpost
which, II attacked and captured, per-
mits the citadel of demOcracy-the
soul of the nation-to be taken. Jour
nalism may help to win the war. Ii
may help to win the war Alright. But
more than that, 1t may help to make
the war that Is won Alright war
worth winning. | make bold to say
that unless the war preserves and pro-
notes the ideals Of democracy, 1t will
not be worth the winning. We cannot
all think alike. Unity of purpose does
not necessarily mean uniformity of
thought. The British empire, held to-
gether by the cohesive power Of a
splendid imperial purpose, consists Of
dominion here, commonwealth
there, and principally yonder, under
the headship of ruler who Is king
In one land and an emperor in another.
The preservation of the ideals of de-
mocracy means the preservation of
freedom of the press, of the right of
criticism, of individual opinion, of de-
Lucrative consideration of public ques-
lions, of disagreement 1t may be with
ones fellows as to the methods of con-
duct of the war and the terms of
peace.
No more important battle In behalf
of democracy has been waged in re-
cent years than the struggle In con
gress against the enactment of the
censorship provision of the espionage
bill. AS members of the profession of
journalism charged with solemn re-
sponsbilities in this grave hour, we
may not congratulate ourselves upon a
complete and well-reasoned victory.
Unfortunately the victory was not won
upon the plain issue of the freedom of
the press-fundamenta to democ-
racy-but was In some measure the re-
of congress to oppose bill presented
by one of the agents of the people in
office in Washington. Victory did not
come upon the broad ground of the
constitutional prerogative of the press,
but to degree upon clouded and
partisan issues. Fortunately, however,
we have constitutional provision
upon which the press may stand. Let
me quote from an old document which
Is still the supreme law In the United
States, made for times Of war, as for
times of peace. Congress shall have
no power" says the Constitution Of
the United States, ito pass laws
abridging the freedom of speech or of
the press" The people of this re-
public, 1t may be said in passing, de-
clined to ratify the Constitution until
this addition thereto was agreed upon.
Supreme Task Of Press.
Back even Of the Constitution Is the
LuiluuHtiiuI liSiit anu LcttSalty VI
public opinion to express itself--with-
out which there Is no democracy We
come here to the Interior power. The
statement of its sovereignty needs no
apology Not only the honor and dig
nifty but the very existence of demo-
cratic state depend upon it. To pre-
serve and promote them, by the crea-
ton of sound and wholesome pub
lie opinion, is the supreme task to
which the press must summon its
every resource. Let no so-called ne
cessity Of war be permitted to be a
cover for reactionary measures. 1t
hath not yet been proved that a repub-
lie armed TO the teeth and bent only
upon material things shall endure.
Another and final service that jour
nalism may render Is the service Of
construction after the war. The United
States has future as well as pres
ent. Many catchwords are used to
describe the present Notwithstanding
'strife. Certainly this one Is true. II
is or should be War to End Wars
So the press, through news column and
editorial comment and Interpretation,
may help-may largely help-to make
impossible another war. This will be
q different sort of n world when the