Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1918-01-24

In this material expansion and the en-
larged use of Vermont capital thus in
vited is to be found the opportunity to
persuade more of our young men and
young women to stay with us and help
make the Green Mountain State what It
should be. We need the infusion Of their
vigorous young blood. We heed above
everything else to conserve our Vermont
youth. for the upbuilding of nobler
manhood and a more exalted womanhood.
Amid world strife and national peril
we gladly bear our part Of the common
burden and share in the varied patriotic
service of all classes for our nation. We
extend to President Wilson and his coll
leagues as we'll as to Governor Graham
and his direct aids our assurance Of
undivided support in every efficient ef-
fort for national defense. We must win
this war for the right of our own and
all other nations to live at home or sail
the seas in sovereign security. We de-
mand the speeding up Of that military
and naval preparedness whose lack
means national disaster. This IL no time
for narrow craftsmanship by either ma
jority or minority In our government,
Every man should be utilized where he
can do the best service for our republic
regardless of politics. big or little.
While we have co-operated zealously
with the newspapers of other States in
Withholding from publication informa-
ton Of military value to the enemy, we
have noted with missiving the appear
ance IN Congress at different times OF in.
dom Of the press. The vehicles Of these
attacks are invasion Of mail privileges,
specious taxation OF special nature,
and other restrictive propositions. We
hold true freedom Of the press to be as
now as when Thomas Jefferson, in recog-
nizing the supreme value Of publicity,
said he would rather have newspapers
without a government than q government
without newspapers.
In the SNUG complacency Of our fan
cied security we are in danger Of over
looking the fact that a free press Is of
comparatively recent origin, having had
its birth In the founding Of the American
republic. Even during our colonial period
political offences sufficed as an excuse
for tho confiscation Of Objectionable news
papers and the Imprisonment Of their ed
itors. American influences have helped
spread freedom Of the press round the
globe.
Germany has continued to stand as the
chief sponsor Of the old order in news
paper suppression as an aid to dictator
ship. Russia warns us that the world is
but step removed from reverson to a
press subsidized or inundated to serve
Prussian absolutism and Hun miltarism
and frightfulness. Complete domination
of the British navy by the German SUBJ
marine would open our shores to attack
by the combined fleets Of subjugated Eu-
rope free press would be one of the
first sacrifices to a victorious Kaiser.
Firm In our sense Of right and hope
Of triumph, we see America emerging
as new nation from this conflict It
is people with all hyphens Of contribute
ing nationality obliterated. AS our re-
public developed from a mere confed.
GRAFTON into a union of commemorative.
SO now State lines are fading under the
penetrating rays Of the sun Of rationale
cation. We are being fused and ANAL
gamated into one great people. Prin.
ciples Of government, policies and methods
OF administration are changing from the
narrow grove of the State to the ma.
tional point Of view. We are no longer
In effect an insular nation. separated
from the outside world by broad ocean ex-
panses and magnificent distances. We
have entered into fellowship with all de-
mocracies. Our sympathies are as broad
as humanity itself
These are the vistas opened to our
gaze by the portals through which our
gallant Vermont soldier boys and their
comrades in arms from all parts of our
land have gone into the old world to
strive for the perpetuation Of world de-
mocracy. 1t is for us to keep pace with
them In the great cause for which they
night and to help put Vermont as ever
In the forefront Of American patriotism,
Any utterance by this organization
would be incomplete without an express
sion of our hearty appreciation of the
hospitality extended to us by President
John M. Thomas and his colleagues of
Middlebury College, by Editor Crane of
the Middlebury Register, and by the peo-
pie Of this fine old New England COM
munity and college town.
The declaration Of principles above
stated was unanimously adopted.