Gilpin observer., 1920-01-29
sEDITIoN.

the World Almanac to print the
Declaration of Independence each
year. In fact, the late Joseph
Pulitzer once issued an order
that the Declaration of Independ-
ence must be published in every
issue of the World Almanac, and
his wishes have been as scrupu-
lously respected since his death
as they were during his lifetime.
This year, however, we are torn
by doubts and misgivings. The
World Almanac for 1920 has al
ready been printed and tens of
thousands of copies have been
distributed and cannot be recall
ed; but the Almanac again con-
tains the Declaration of Independ-
ence and the, new sedition bill as
agreed to by the house judiciary
committee provides that any per-
son shall be deemed guilty of a
felony "who either orally or by
writing, printing or the use of
any sign, symbol, picture, carica-
ture, or shall otherwise teach, in
cite, advocate, propose or advise
or aid, abet or encourage forcible
resistance to or destruction of the
government of the United States,
it's constitution, laws and authori-
ty, or the governments of the sew
eral states, all or any of them, or
the existence of constituted gov
ernment generally"
Now, unfortunately, the second
paragraph of the Declaration of
Independence is defiantly scdi-
tious, in that it proclaims-
That whenever any form of gov
ernment becomes destructive of
these ends, it is the right of the
people to alter or to abolish it,
and to institute new government,
laying its foundation on such
principles and organizing it's pow
ers in such form, as to them shall
seem most likely to effect their
safety and happiness. Prudence.
indeed, will dictate that govern
ments long established should not
be changed for light and transient
causes; and accordingly all ex-
pcrience hath shown, that man.
kind are more disposed to suffer,
while evils are sufferable, than to
right themselves by abolishing
the forms to which they are accus-
toned. But when long train of
abuses and usurpations, pursuing
invariably the same object, evin-
ces design to reduce them under
absolute despotism, it is their
right, it is their duty, to throw
off such government, and to pro-
vide new guards for their future
security.
We are willing, of course, as a
law-abiding institution, to disso-
ciate ourselves completely hence
forth from the incendiary senti-
ments of Thomas Jefferson, Ben
jamin Franklin, John Adams.
John Hancock, Robert Sherman.
Samuel Adams, Robert Morris
and the other mischievous radi-
Gals who signed this document.
But, as we have already said, the
World Almanac for 1920 has al
ready been printed, and the World
has been engaged in circulating
a document that on it's face is hid
eously seditious, document that
is about to be banned by the law,
a document that most impudently
insists that there are circumstan-
ces in which "forcible resistance"
either to government or to the
laws and authority" of govern
ment may be justified, and that
shows no proper regard whatever
for constituted government gener-
ally"
The World can easily suppress
the Declaration of Independence
in all future editions of the AL
manac, but in the meantime the
mischief has been done for 1920
and the seditious utterances of
Thomas Jefferson have been scat
tered to the four corners of the
country.
For any evil consequences that
may ensue. in which case the
World can be indicted as an ac-
cessory before the fact. we can
only beg for mercy and for such
consideration rs the department
of Justice may graciously grant.
Sedition is sedition. and the
acts of congress, whatever they
may be. are pa. of the sunreme