The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-12-12
FREE SPEECH in AMERICA.


It is unfortunate that s reputation Of St. Louis for
hospitality and tue Amecanism, sofaras broad Of Incl
DENTS for which the people Of this city whole Or any
organized body Of them are responsible. The diff
Guilty the Committee Of Forty-eght has encountered in
carrying out its original convention program not due to
any actively hostile spirit among people, but appears
to have resulted from nudcious acts Of very few and
the unnecessary mdity Of others There is no reason
why that body should not hold convention I'M peace and
quiet in ST. Lous only under the full protection Of
officers Of the law but without requiring such protection
In this respect the Globe is glad note that the
heads of the American Legion in this city dscam any &C
ton whatever the part Of that body to interfere with
the holding of the convention of any desire to interfere
Such interference would not exempfy the true American
spirit and in statement given TO the press By Robert
Burkman chairman of the St. Louis Executive Committee
Of the American Legion the attitude Of that body clear
" stated that phase Of Americansm. It says The
American Legion stands emphatcay for 100 per cent
Americanism. 'Amercanism as understand It, in
cludes the right Of free speech which right is not 70 be
denied to any group Of men who seek to accom-
psh changes in our its statutes by lawful
means" II few individuals on their initiative have
given the public another impression than this, Mr. Burk
hams statement should correct it.
There no progress in human government without ag
tation Long ago told that eternal vigilance IS
the price Of liberty" 1t when nothing is said and no
protests are made that conditions crystalline for evil Pro
tests voiced and public action taken against existing nst
4t -. r. Al ID.
abolition. The republican party formed as pro-
test against slavery than which other institution was
more firmly fixed upon us or more fiercey defended
Some of the early agators for abolition we're treated
as roughly few thoughtless want now to treat
agators for other changes constitution and pot
cal industrial system Only when force is advocated
adopted does advocacy Of change in laws and
the constitution itself deserve represson and then
should be legal repression not that Of the mob If in
sttuons cannot survive open discussion, if our educs
ton Of the youth Of the land in American principles and
true democracy defective that not developing
failure in our democracy The greatest failure could
make would be to become intoeran of those who hold
political theories or desire conditions different from those
we hold DESIRE and express that intolerance by re
sort to illegal force or intimidation.
We cannot afford either to Russianize Mexcanizt
the United States by autocrac repression, whether b.
governmental autocracy from above mob autocracy
from below The freedom for which fathers and ou
brothers have died is too precious for that few days
ago the Globe Democrat said There is much to be hop
ed for in the preservation of democratic institutions from
the splendid American young who fought to preserve
democracy for the whole world The Reputation of
spirit Of intolerance desire interfere with free speed
and lawful efforts to effect changes in laws and inst
buttons the part of the officials Of the American Lcgiol
and the declaration that this fine body Of American you'll
stands fourquare for law and order and protection of al
citizens in their legal rights shows that this hope to
realized and that for years to shall have bod
of loyal citizens devoted to the preservation Of American
ism in its highest and noblest ideas-St Louis Gob
. Democrat