The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1918-03-19

which / want to say a few words to
you about today.
Pro-Paeifists Shoot Poison.
One Of the elements that is seed
ing discord today is the poison
shooting pro- German pacifist who
uses as an argument that America
is losing her democracy because she
Is suppressing the right of free
speech. To the unthinking fellow
this continued prodding about the
right of free speech makes him see
red, and the first thing that happens
he does something that upon second
thought he wouldn't have done I'M
der any circumstances during the
war period, and the result is, labor
Is. cIassed as disloyal.
But, my friends, the element I
speak OF is not confined to labor's
ranks alone. You will find them in
all organizations and in all walks of
life and it's Of them / want to warn
you against.
The pacifst of the present day
says the subject of peace agitation
has resolved itself into an issue of
free speech. My friends, If there was
any symptom of truth in that
statement, it would be a matter for
serious consideration, since the very
of our liberty is laid on
the rights of free expression by the
people upon public questions, and an
of that right by the con-
authorities would be the be-
ginning of the end of the right Of our
people to govern themselves. The
history Of the struggle for free
speech is a long one, and can't even
be sketched at this time even though
1t were helpful to an understand
ing of the point at issue. The right
Of free speech is one which the fed
eral constitution leaves largely in
the hands Of the state government.
1t is guaranteed in article one of the
that congress shall
make no laws abridging the free
dom Of speech, the right of assembly
or of the people to petition congress
for redress of grievance. 1t is the
tradition Of American and Anglo
Saxon institutions that speech aimed
at the existing form Of government
or at the personnel Of that govern
ment is privileged. This is the form
which an appeal for the redress Of
grievance must take, but, my
that privilege does not ex-
tend the right Of pleading the in
terest Of a foreign, hostile govern
ment as such action is equivalent to
lending aid to the enemy and is
more or less than treason.
Paeifieism Is Inspired.
1t is my understanding of the
pacifist movement in our country
since war has been declared that it
Is inspired by students friendly. M
Is inspired by interests friendly to
Germany and unfriendly to Ameri-
can or allied armies. The most dis
tinguished bona fide Americans who
we're pacifists before war was de-
hat declaration arrayed themselves
loHdly behind the President.
Charles Edward Russell, who was
! we'll known Socialist and who
or was thrown out of that
party after they adopted the resolu-
tons at st. Louis condemning the
President for allowing this country
10 enter the war; what has been
mis- position? Why, going forth
to the workers that their
only hope for future happiness de-
pended on America winning this
war. What about the hero OF many
4 labor battle, Clarence barrow,
who was always on labor's side;
what does he advocate? Nothing but
4 united front, II labor ever expects
10 reap any benefits.
Two Elements of Paeifists.
Let's go over on the other side of
he seeming barrier. between capital
and labor, and what do we find
There's a man who spent a million
collars trying to arrange peace, and
what position does he take? Why,
upon the declaration OF
war by this country he offers the
Iss OF his money to the President
md his factories for any purpose
he war board sees fit. i am refer
ing to Henry Ford. That, then,
the pacifsts of the present
lay to two elements: One OF which |
sand you will pardon the slang
xpression-those who are unreser-
'edly pulling for the Kaiser to win, |
md the other Is that element who
'efuses to abide by deliberate and |
awful declaration by this govern :
nent, and even goes to the extent |
4 lending aid to the enemy. These /
'eopIe had free rein to say what |
hey desired on the subject Of war