Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1921-09-01
ALVIN OWSLEY TALKS
ON AMERICANISM
Tells Legion Convention At Lex
ington That Right of Free
Speech Mustn't Be Abused
(By Associated Press)

of the right of free speech is not
implied by the right of free
speech, Alvin NJ. Owsley, Nation
al Director of the Anericanis'n
Commission Of the American &c
gion. told members of the f>eIi
tucky Department in an address
before the state convention here
today. "A government which
guarantees freedom of speech is
entitled to frame laws which snail
fortify its guarantee" he declar
ed.
"Thcre must be no sagying
Oack in the work Of Americani>,n
merely because the war is over
Mr.. Owsley said. The ricn of
the legion and their comrades il
arms went across the water be
cause they were filled With tie
spirit that has made America. a
spirit that meets the challenge a
spirit that wants to help. Combire
these two qualities and You ha.e
the essence of AmericanIsri--a
spirit symbolized by the Wash.
ingtOn monument that cic::E.
straight arm lifted to heaven III
eternal pledge that our land shall
always be independent and free.
He urged that the legion cali
all men and women in America 20
the standard to do battle w::li
the forces of ignorance so that
means will be provided which VII
permit us to deliver from honl
age millions Of children anI mer
and women in these United States
to libcrate them from the fetters
of ignorance. that all the wealth
and beauties of lierature and the
knowledge that comes through
the printed word can be revealed
to them Let us take a strong
resolution that we shall make
America a land i'll which there
will be surer justice and iirer
sympathy. greater love for all
mankind. fuller realization OF
the hopes of Our fathers and OF
of the hopes that are within our
breasts.
He declared that American cit
izenship is not condition OF
birth or naturalization. "but like
loyalty it is question of faith !:
of uncompromising adherence to
the laws of the land of reverence
for the ideals of our fathers and i
willingness to work. fight and die,
if need be for them All who
cannot measure up to their hual-
iiiCations are enemies of the ma
ton.
We are hearing great deal
about free speech these days
wonder if there isn't about to be
, an over anxiety with some people
. about the abridgement of THEN
of free speech? All men must
learn. and women too for that
! matter-that the principle OF iree
speech does not imply that speech
may be used and abused to the
extent of endangering and de-
stroying the principle. y s.or-
/ ernment that guarantees freedom
of speech is entitled to frame Laws
which shall fortify its guarantee.
; America must protect herself un
der the law against vicious and
corrupt teaching and agitation
for the overthrow of this govern
ment by force of arms and = 10
lence. None are Americans wllc
do not believe in the American;
government. He who tries &c
overthrow this government for-
feits his right to be all American
The time has not vet come II ihe
history of Our country when any
man or woman :an prostitute
American ideals and Sill lie n
! American citizen.
81 sometimes think lovalt5 IS {
question of faith. Loyalty to oui
country presupposes and freely
grants unquestioniug confidence
in our government. The :IIns
has come when the inen 'al,o de
Tended this country in times o
/. war against our enemies from ,h'
outside must defend our govern
ment against an equally danger
ous foe from within. The dan
gerous thing is that there are re
sponsibe persons who lid i:ot an
do not now see the danger.