The twice-a-week Twin Falls times. (Twin Falls, Idaho) 1916-1918, 1917-08-28
ARISING FREE SPEECH

Before our nation enters a war it
is perfectly proper to discuss the wis
dom of going to war, but the discus
sion is closed when congress acts, I"
says w. j. Bryan. After that no one
should be permitted to cloak attacks
upon his government or aid to the
enemy under the claim that he is ex-
ercising freedom of speech No sym
pathy therefore, will be wasted upon
those who have been arrested for I'M
patriotic utterances. They abuse free
speech And this applies to attacks
upon the United States. We can no
more allow our allies to be crushed
than we can afford to crush ourselves.
We must stand together and fight it
through. There are only two sides to
a war--every American must be on
the side of the United States"
While The Times did not approve of
the general policy toward Germany
advocated by Colonel Bryan before the
declaration of war, it is forced to
admit that his course before and
since was prompted by a spirit of
patriotism which has been signally
lacking on the part of some others
who opposed the beginning of hostili-
ties. Colonel Bryan conceded at all
times that we had ample grounds for
declaring war on Germany but plead
ed that that country was war mad,
and that this was an extenuating cir
cumstance which should have prompt
ed us to extend leniency. The logic
was faulty, for while it was true that
the German nation was war mad, and
while this might be taken into con-
sideration in determining whether we
should collect punative indemnities
instead of mere recompense for dam
ages inflicted, there was no reason
why we should consent to lose our
lives as we'll as liberties because our
opponent was out of his head. The
sensible thing to do was to use force
enough to put him and his vagaries
out of commission, hoping that a clout
on the head would bring back his san
ity.
But in method Colonel Bryan acted
periodically. He opposed the filibus
ter in congress, and when war was de
clared he not only offered his owl
services wherever he could be used
but also took the stand that the gen
eral staff of the United States arm.
should be permitted to run the wal
unembarrassed by the ignorant an,
factious criticisms of political STRAIT
egists. In this he adopted a cours
that some who were never accused o
pacifism might well have emulateC
And he has consistently urged tina
the government not be hampered il
its military operations.
What The Times wants to empha
size here is that the leading opponen
of the declaration of war is wOrl1in
in a whole hearted way with the gov
eminent. Not only in a whole heart
ed way but in a sensible way. Thos
who. like him, thought that furthe
aggression should have been suffere
by this country would do well to TO
low his example in this case, and mos
of them are doing so.
The patriotic declaration of Colon'
Bryan quoted above has been misiI
terpreted either through ignorance {
malice by some to mean that II
Great Commoner" opposed all con
ment or criticism on the conduct
the war, on possible peace terms an
on measures pending in congress.
warrants no such construction.
obviously refers to those who attaC
the government in such way as
hamper military operations, or wi
laid the enemy" under pretense
exercising free speech.
Free speech is a precious her
age, but traitors who use the ter
often mean that they shall have
cense to lie in the interest of t
enemy. If a ruffian should get o
and use filthy and obscene langua
in the presence of the wife and daug
tiers of one of these praters, he wor
IN most cases SlluSi phy
sent it, OF would appeal to the law
protection against the exercise
free speech by the blackguard," a
would insist, rightly. of course, Il
he be placed under bonds to keep
peace, as well as punished. Z
when it comes to deliberately lyi
about his own government in time
national peril, or lying about the n
tives of public officials, or givi
away military secrets, the sal
traitor becomes very much exercis
in behalf of free speech.
The Times believes in the wild