Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-02-13

1orlty OF the american people nave
in European affairs is, first, to get
their soldiers out of Europe, and
then see to it that the United States
shall never be unnecessarily en-
tangled in European wars and Eu-
ropean politics on any pretext what
ever.
THAT sentiment, Senators, is as
universal as the air in the United
States to-day; that is the way nearly
everybody feels, certainly nearly
every American native to the soil
and bred up in the traditions of the
fathers.
IF you had the wisdom, Senators
and Representatives, to undo your
own bad and foolish work, to repeal
the Espionage Law and every other
war measure that restraints free
printing and free speech, you would
very quickly learn what the major
ity Of the people are thinking.
But, as it is, you do not hear what
the people are saying to each other.
You hear and you read only what
bureaucratic terrorism permits you
to hear and to read.
The pretense that censorship has
been abolished is pretense only.
The pretense that the press is
free is pretense only.
mo censorship is abolished so
long as petty bureaucratics still have
the power to bring citizens before
the courts for the free expression Of
opinion and to destroy news papers
which print matter Objectionable to
these autocrats by ordering the mails
closed to such newspapers.
mo censorship is abolished so long
as the channels of communication
through which alone information can
come are under the absolute con
troll either Of foreign or domestic
bureaucratic officials.
This censorship, is is true, may
not be in physical evidence, but it
is there just the same, working day
by day and night by night, directing
controlling and terrorizing both the
press and individuals.
ut is still just as true as when
Senator Hiram johnson said it on the
floor of the Senate Chamber that
I'VE have cowed Congress, cowed
press and eowed people"
Now, then, Senator's, it is time
to end such humiliating situation
"The most serious questions that
have ever arisen in All our history
are about to be decided either 10
the permanent good or che permanent
misfortune Of our country, and II
there is any meaning at all in our
constitutional form Of government
in our democratic institutions Of
popular sovereignty, then it is
not only the right but il
is the duty and the solemn obligation
Of every American newspaper anc
every American citizen to take ar
active part in the discussion Of these
questions.
"How can the sentiment of the
majority Of the American people be
determined without free discussion
"Who is to know whether the Ad
ministration's views are the views
Of the majority of the people or moi
so long as bureaucratic Government
officials have the power to punish
any newspaper or any citizen thai
does not agree with the official view
! Everybody knows that the war is
over, even if the governments have
not officially proclaimed that fact.
"And yet you, gentlemen of the
Congress, permit foolish and hys
terical and absolutely unconstitu
tional legislation which you enacted
to suppress free printing and free
speech, admitted only as a wal
measure, to remain in full force
months after the war is actually, il
not nominally, ended.
"And you complain that the Elk
ecutive Branch Of the Government
applies to you the same treatment
which you continue to apply to the
people who elected you and whose
servants and not whose masters you
lawfully and rightfully are.
"If you treat your fellow citizens
who are constitutionally your part
ners, and your superior partners in
the free government of this country
with complete contempt Of their
rights to take a part in the discus
sion and the decision of grave ma
tional questions, how can you wonder
that the Executive Branch Of our
tripartite Government treats your
lawful claims to partnership and your
lawful right to take part in dis
I ctlssion and a decision of the ma