The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-05-21

and reading only our party papers
when we ought TO hear both sides OF
important questions. OF course gov
ernment ownership Of railroads is not
Yet a party issue, but if it was we
know at least whepe Leslie NJ. Shaw
Will stand and we VIII know some Of
his views
THE PRESS.
That was 4 powerful lecture deliy-
cred by DR.. OF at the ChautauUua
tent Friday evening upon the subject,
victory in which he pointed out that
the real victory of democracy over
autocracy would not be complete cv-
Ell when the Germans have signed the
Treaty of Versailles. The victory, he
said, properly could not be won until
the principles Of Justice and democra-
cy had become implanted in the con
sciences Of the people and nations Of
the world, or something to that effect
After giving a general illustration cf
the fundamental difference between
democratic and autocratic governments
showing that the rule Of the pcoplc
rather than that Of an autocrat was the
only Just, as well as permanent, form
of government-hc pointed out that the
education Of these people was the safe
guard against misrulc. To properly
impress upon the people the rcSponSi-
bilitieS Of government and TO insure
the educational and spiritual life
which would bring forth the best form
OF citizenship, he urged n purity Of
nome life, support Of schools and
churches and 4 cleaner code Of no
lllical ethics. DR.. OFT made power
full plea for the future welfare Of the
nation and the world, but he made or
rors which so dctractcd from the good
points in his lecture that, if a balance
were drawn between the good and the
Dad ii is doubtful which side would
outweigh the other. II is unfortunate
that lecture SO fraught with good
should have been spoiled by muck
raklng tactics calculated to tickle the
car at the time but y,t. when subjected
to ANALYSIS, are found to ring untrue.
We will not deal with his unwarrantod
criticism Of the pOstOllicc officials for
delays Of the mail in France when the
mail was in the hands Of the military
nor OF his ridiculc Of those earnest
and self-sacrificing ministers Of the
gospel who arc plodding year in and
year out trying to do good, nor even
10 his references to newspapers which
handle patent medicine advertising.
These are all relatively minor mat
1crS, needing correction perhaps, but
nevertheless hardly needing attention.
But IDr. Otis attack upon the Press
as power for evil was undcscrving,
unwarrantcd and calculated to do
boundless harm.
1t must be remembered that the at
tack upon the integrity Of the Press
was not original with Dr. OFT. 1t has
become quite the vogue with polite
ians and other speakers seeking pub
lie favor and public money to berate
the newspapers. We have one and
quite few other shining examples Of
such in this State. Other States have
them also and. to repeat, it has be-
come quite vogue and Dr.. OFT, so to
speak, is just getting on the band
wagon. But the difference between
DR.. OFT and these other critics of the
press is that he delivers his address
under the auspices Of an organization
which Is considered and is received as
an educational institution, one with
out prejudice, with no axe to grind
and worthy Of and possessing the con
fidence OF the people who support it
and attend it's sessions. A speakers
worth then Is not measured by his de-
sire to get office, but by his own per-
sonality and the auspices under which
he comes. Connected with his other
wise powerful address, and under such
favorable auspices, the undertaking
charges were given considerable force.
Now there arc black ehenn IN tbn