Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-22
EDITOR
LET HIM SPEAK

J
for the -AngloSaxOn race is more deeply cherished
than that of free speech; none more necessary TO
the institutions of democratic government. 49,
At time when Great Britain was on the dark
side Of the long hill of war. fighting upward for
adequate army and an efficient cabinet organization,
erackhraned theorists and eloquent pacifists were
haranguing crowds in HYDE Park. berating the min
istry. deriving national armed combat shouting out
sentiments which many people might consider we'll
nigh reasonable At some particularly highly
seasoned phrase calling the cabinet members rogues
and the generals and admiras slave-drivers, a
'sbobby' lettering nearby might indulge himself in
smile. but il would not to him that the
speaker should he pulled down from his platform
and marched off to jail
Hyde Park has been witnessing scenes like this
since the Restoration in 1861 and the fact that the
dissenters have been permitted to spout almost I'M
disturbed has gone far to keep England cool in time
of crisis There have been reactions when free
speech denied, but the right inevitably was es-
tablished later.
Russia seethed with revolt from system that
crushed under military rthlessnes and secret police
espionage both the right of free speech and the
right of free press. Finally the pot boiled over !;
those certain Unbelievable rights of humanity rose
mp and asserted themselves; dynasty fell; democ-
DIR. Charles F. Dole, visitor here and personally
a likable. genial and extremely wefinformed man,
is noted pacifst. He is to lecture tonight at the
Y. W. G. A. on topic presumably pacifst in it's
thread of argument. Protests have been made that
at this serious crisis in American affairs he should
not be allowed to speak under the auspices of the
Organization. ."'4
The Star. Bulletin does not believe DIR. Dole will
utter any treason. 1t is his right as well as his
privilege to express his mind on a public topic so
long as that expression is within the bounds of pro
priety, and pacifst topics are usually within these
For the Y. W. G.. A. to refuse Or. Dole his oppor
tunity to speak now having once promised that
would be equivalent to DENYING the
right of free speech. 1t would be equivalent to
suppression of free speech at tAe behest of those
who do not agree with pacifst principles. The Y.
w. G. "A. does not indorse Dr. Dole's sentiments by
allowing him to speak any than the newspapers
ndorse his sentiments in publishing interviews with
him. s%.@ss 81
So long as public speeches are neither ineendiary
nor personally insulting neither tending to infiame
weak and vicious minds nor to hamper public Off
cials in carrying out their duty they should NOT be
suppressed In fact, it is often wise to allow the
vale. Let DIR. Dole speak There is not the slight
est evidence that the paeifss getting control of
our government to the extent of blocking our prep
arations to meet the stern realities of national
istence There is infinitely more danger from stupid
censorship of speech and of the press than from re
sonable freedom. We do not want the impact of
kulturbred mitarism on our free institutions, and
the way TO stop it is before it gets started