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

for the AnglGSaxon race is more deeply cherished
than that Of free speech; none more necessary Il
the institutions of democratic government.
At a time when Great Britain was the DARK
side of the long hill of war. fighting upward for ar
adequate army and an efficient cabinet organization
'crackbraned theorists and eloquent pacifists were
haranguing crowds in Hyde Park, berating the min
istry. decryng national armed combat shouting ou1
sentiments which many people might consider we'll
nigh treasonable At some particularly highly
seasoned phrase calling the cabinet members rogues
and the generals and admirals slave-drvers. d
''bobby" lettering nearby might indulge himself in
smile. but it would not TO him that the
speaker should be pulled down from his platform
and marched off to Jail.
Hyde Park has been witnessing scenes like this
since the Restoration in 1860 and the fact that the
dissenters have been permitted to spout almost un
disturbed has gone far to keep England cool in time
OF crisis There have been reactions, when free
speech was denied, but the right inevitably was es
tablished later. >. ="
Russia seethed with revolt from system that
crushed under military rHthessnes 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
up and asserted themselves; a dynasty fell; democ
racy trumphed. - ~. ...-. @
DIR. Charles F. Dole d visitor here and personally
a likable, genial and extremely well-informed man,
is noted pacifst He is to lecture tonight at the
y. w. &. A. on topic presumably pacifist in its
thread of argument. Protests have been made that
at this serious crisis i'm American affairs he should
not be allowed to speak under the auspices of the
organization
The Star Bulletin does not believe DIR. Dole will
utter any treason. 1t is his right as we'll his
privilege to- express his mind on a public topic so
long that expression is within the bounds of pro-
priety, and pacis topics are usually within these.
For the Y. w. G, A, to refuse DR.. Dole his oppor
tunity to speak now, having once promised that
opportunity, would be equivalent TO denying the
right of free speech. / 1t would be equivalent to
of free speech at the behest of those
who do not agree with pacifst principles. The Y.
Nv. G. A. does not indorse On. Doles sentiments by
allowing him to speak any more than the newspapers
indorse his sentiments in publishing interviews with
him. a3Z .#
So long as public speeches are neither ineendiary
nor personally insulting; neither tending to nfame
weak and vicious minds nor to hamper public Off
cials in carrying out their duty they should not be
In fact it is often wise to allow the
ncendarists to .hlow off steam. Speech is safety
vale Let DR. Dole speak. There is not the slight
evidence that the pacfsts are getting control of
our government to the extent of blocking our prep
arations to meet the stern realities of national ex
stence There is infinitely more danger from stupid
of speech and of the press than from re
sonable freedom. We do not want the impact of
knturbred militarism on our free institutions and
the way to stop it is before it gets started