New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-12-15
Freedom by Fighting
Government Worth Having Can Only
Be Maintained by Battling for 1t

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In the discussions OF our so-called
freedom Of speech which have grown out OF
the public statements of certain persons WIN
highly indvidualistic and anarchstic ten
dencies we should not lose sight oil some
rather Fundamental facts both in law ana gen
eral practice. The Constitution of the United
States. Article | Of the Amendments, says
Congress shall made no law aorldgihs
the freedom Of speech or of the press Al
students of government know that 'h'S
amendment has been modified by lhterpre
tation 70 mean that freedom OF speech anu
If the press shall not be abridged except
when the welfare Of society shall demand IL.
Legislatures have abridged freedom '"
speech again and again by many ana various
laws covering cases of libel, obscene speee"'
reasonable speech, profane speech III oui
EVERYDAY conversation we are all n'oie "
Iess conscious of the dangers attached 10
absolute freedom of speech because OF tnese
laws which abridge it and the court decisions
which have been rendered IN accordance WIN
the limitations.
The very preamble of the Constitution
,,od;6es the literal reading OF the amehu-
mont when il declares that the purpose OF
tho Constitution is to provide government
for our common defence and general wei
fare. Free speech that endangers our gen
eral welfare is vicious, and the right OF the
individual TO free speech or 10 any other IN
diyidual right ends just where 1t interferes
with the common defence of the socialized
unit called society. The socialized commu-
nifty has a right to look TO its constituted
authorities for protection from the evils OF
speech or the evils of any other act that may
give aid TO the enemy without or to the
leaders Of sedtion and instruction within.
It is the business of government to pro-
tect the great body of citizens from the I'M
balanced vagaries and the dangerous indi-
vidualistic acts of the few. II should also
be the business of the schools, the press, the
pulpit and of all loyal citizens to aid the
government by giving on every possible occa-
sion simple and intelligent Interpretation of
our laws and institutions. Every principle
Of popular government may be abused by
persons who are ignorant OF our institutions
and what it has cost TO establish them, or
By persons who have no concern for the
common good.
In the Time of Crisis
Every one does not know that it some
times becomes necessary to modify a general
principle by laws and cour. decisions, such
as those that limit freedom of speech and
freedom Of the press; otherwise, as Hamilton
once said: IAN adhesion to the letter of the
powers of Congress would at once arrest the
g
great crisis it may become necessary to
abridge other personal liberty rights which
were granted in the Constitution. Lincoln
found it necessary to suspend the habeas
corpus act as war measure, and history
has justified his action.
Every newspaper editor knows the statutes
that limit the freedom Of the press, and only
a demagogue who wishes to stir up unrest
among the ignorant would insist upon the
literal rendering Of the amendment.
Another much abused and much misunder-
stood expression in the government for the
people aad by the people" The individual
is. nterprets this TO mean government
founded upon the will of each individual to
govern himself as he wills, which, of course,
is anarchy Absolutely opposed to this in
divdualistic and anarchistic theory of gov
eminent is the theory OF government by
majorities, which expresses the will of the
greater number for the common veal. For
the sake of the community each person gives
up many individual wishes. This is govern
ment by the people and for the people.
In these times, when German propagandists
are attempting to SOW dissension among the
thoughtless and the ignorant every patriot
should be "Four-Minute Man" in attempt
ing to get across with some intelligent no.
L l. i,ct ff,,ti Nor
persons are enjoying a shelter here from
conditions that they consider intolerable in
other lands, but they are not willing TO aid
in protecting this shelter which they enjoy.
They do not seem to know that this ex-
pertinent in government is the result of
strife and battle 1t was founded in strife
and battle, and we are now called upon to de-
fend it against anarchy and Bolsheviki plati-
tudes on the one side and German militarsm
on the other As surely as We fail 20 pro-
tect our inheritance the cost OF the German
war debt will be collected from us at the
point of the sword. Ii we fail to protect
our ideals we shall be forced to accept the
ideals and the principles Of a German mill
taristic machine. Our experiment in popu-
lar government will prevail just so long
we care enough for it to fight for it and il
necessary TO die for it. LIMA l.. GANO.
New York, Dec. Is, 1917.
Warmth and Comfort at Spartanburg