Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-08
AssaiIs Sedition Law

To the Edtor of the Eueniug PUb'ic Lcdncr:
Sr-Allow mc 10 express my approval OF
the sane aud sensible editorial in Saturday S
EVENING PUBLIC LEDGER "ondcmning the
proposed scdition law. You arc absolutely
and incontrovcrtably right in dcnouncing
the attempt to convert crimes INTO polltical
offcnscs.
The people of Pennsylvania when they
ordained and established their government
refused TO surrender 10 the power of that
government certain rights. That there
might be no dispute or question between the
pcoplc and their government concerning
these rights they were defined and SGT forth
in tho very first article of the constitution
under the title declaration of rights. And
after cnumcrating these rights the pcopl"
said: ITO guard against transgrcssions OF
tho high powers which VIC have delegated,
We declare that everything in :hjs article IS
excepted out of the general powers OF gov
crnmcnt and shall remain forever invoatc'
There are therefore certain rights whlrh
the people possess independent of the govern
mcnt and over which the government has no
control whatever. Ono of these rights has I"
do with the government itself. The second
section of the declaration of rights asserts:
"All mower is inherent in tho people, and
nil free governments are founded on their
authority and instituted for their peace.
safety and happiness. For the advancement
of these ends they havc~at all times an
inalcnablc and indcfcasiblc ritht to alter,
reform or abolish their government in such
manner as they think proper
While that section stands in the charter
of the peoples liberties the government of
PENNSYLVANIA has no power to pass scditlon
law.
II is not. therefore. for the Legislature.
the Governor nor the courts nor for all to-
gethcr. to tell the people how they shall
'.altcr. reform or abolish their government.
That right and that power is inherent in III"
pcoplc and they can exercise 1T in such
manner as they think proper.
knowing their rights and knowing that
tbcy can only be maintained against govern
mont by perfect liberty of speech and of the
nrcss. the people safeguarded these incSti-
mobc rights in the seventh section Of the
declaration of rights by declaring: ''fhc
nrintiug press shall be free to every person
who undertakes to examine the proceedings
of the Legislature, or any branch of govern
mcnt, and no law shall ever be made TO re
strain the right thereof.
Thus government is forbidden to place any
restraint whatever upon the press in its
examination of the affairs of government.
Section seven luflhtr u'Ciates' Ihc ll'' |
communication of thoughts and opinions is
one of the invaluable rights of man, and |
every citizen may fully speak, write and
print on any subject, being responsible for |
the abuse of that liberty
What is an abuse of that liberty? Is it |
thc abuse to bring the government into con-
.,'t Wv Is +ho thing snokcn written or priuted |
ah,,t ur tho rrbIic officials bo trur9 Not ut |
"u Fnr tho seventh section still further |
Jo,,oros dm, "No conviction shall ever be had |
y: ,rosocution for tho nrbIication of |
rors 80 roloting to tho official conduct Of |
pap pa;oors or mon in nubIic canacitv. or 70 any
o,Lon ,nattor nropcr for nubIic invostiro