The daily Gate City and constitution-Democrat. (Keokuk, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1917-11-14

BUSINESS, ana me transportation OF
liquor in interstate commerce, all OF
which is within your Jurisdiction.
Then at this particular time there
are other laws arising out of this
| terrible war in which we are now
engaged l suppose we all fully un
derstand the fact that this nation is
at war, and i am sure that in the
heart of every man who claims to be
an American citizen there is but one
possible result contemplated and that
is final victory. There can be no
other result. Victory must come to
us in this awful conflict. And what
does this mean? 1t means that the
nation in her great struggle must
have men and money, and to have
men and money we must have the
proper spirit. With the proper spirit
there will be no difficulty in having
the men and the money.
Five Per Cent Wrong.
But it has been found necessary
to enact special laws applying to
these war conditions. This has not
been found necessary with reference
to all our people, because l can safe
ly say that 50 per cent Of the people
Of the United States are earnestly
and Loyalty and periodically support
ing the government in this conflict.
But there is small percentage Of
men who in their egotism set up
their judgment against the vast ma,
jority, and who will not submit 10y
ally to the authority of the govern
ment. These are men who have not
yet learned that republic must be
governed by majorities, and thai:
when the majority has spoken in the
manner prescribed by the constitution
that the minority must yield, no mat
ter whether they agree with the ma
jority or not. This is the basis Of
our whole structure Of government.
We would rather submit to the voice
of the majority than to submit to the
voice of an individual who may be
for the time being king or an en-
peror.
No laws have been enacted which
are not fair and just. No laws have
been enacted which any man who Is
patriot at heart need fear. No man
will violate these laws except the
few who in their hearts are wishing
that Germany might win in this con-
flict, and who are willing to see the
United States humbled into the dust.
"udL die lneSS laws. wen, We
must have men. We get men by en-
listment or by CONSUMPTION. Tho
must have them, and any
man who interferes with the govern
ment in securing enlistments or in
enforcing CONSUMPTION is giving aid
to the enemy and weakening the
power Of this government. So we
have a law prescribing punishment
for any man who by word or act shall
discourage or impede enlistment or
the enforcement Of the conscription
act. It may be by circulating false
stories of terrible disasters on land
or sea- 1t may be in q dozen differ
ent ways. Not that the government;
will punish a man who honestly
makes mis-statement In regard to
these matters. Patriotism like relg-
ion is q matter Of the heart, and tho
man who is honestly in favor of this
and doing his part, who
may make q mistake Of this kind does
not come within the law; but ths
man who at heart is traitor and who
by act or word seeks to cripple his
government should be and must be
punished. If he will not
yield from sense of obedience
and loyalty, he must be made to
yield by a sense Of fear of the power
Of this great government.
Some men, 1t appears, are afraid
that they are being deprived Of their
right of free speech. l had letter
from a man month ago, a good man,
WHO expressed q fear that we were
losing our privilege of freedom OF
speech. l wrote to him. I told hire
I was interested in the problem; that
| wanted to get his view; and l ask
ed him to write me and tell me
frankly what there is that man
ought to say in these times that could
not be said-what man ought to
say when we are In this world con-
flict. These are times of sacrifice
when mothers are sacrificing their
sons. and men are sacrificing their
Is it too much to ask
that men shall make some sacrifice
Of the right of freedom of utterance,
where our speech might be an OBJ
stacle in the prosecution Of this war:
Legitimate Criticism.
Can we not utter criticism? Crit
icism. yes. No man from the presi-
dent down has ever sought to sup
press legitimate criticism. Take up
your newspapers and you find criti-
,ism of men and measures. Go down
10 congress. and you find men upon
The floor criticising bills. appropria- !
ions and other measures. But these
newspapers and these men in con-
yress are uttering helpful criticism.
they are trying to point out better !
yay to win this war. They are not |
altering their criticism to place an
obstacle in the way Of success Their |
hearts are right. Their purpose Is
patriotic. This helpful criticism is
welcomed by every man. 1t is only |
he criticism of the man who has
reason in his heart. and who in the
,uise Of criticism seeks to hamstring
his government, that comes within |
he restrictions Of the law.
These are strenuous times. There |
s and will be more or less passion |
aroused but, gentlemen, in the per-
'ormance of your duties, Put aside
LII passion and all prejudice, and
.almly and periodically consider
n atters that NAV come before you,