Evening star., 1926-11-09
BACKGROUND OF EVENTS
BY PAUL y. COLLINS.

Free speech and a free press are
recognized in America as the prime
buIwarks Of liberty. To attack them
Ia to set up an intolerable tyranny
They were guaranteed by the United
States Constitution. Their abuse and
restriction had been part Of George
IT'S tyranny, which had led to the
Revolution.
But freedom OF speech, whether
oral or through the printed word, is
no part of the renaissance of "order-
ly government" in continental Eu.
rope today. Mussolini long since
abolished it. and now comes Marshal
Pilsudski, the dictator of Poland. with
a. decree which. If sanctioned by the
Sejm-the Polish Parliament-will alb
solutely suppress such liberty and put
all power into the hands Of the die
tator and his supporters. Yet. Pill
sudski denies that he 10 aiming at
the kingship OF that republic.
The Pilsudski decree makes 1t a
penal offense to publish news which
excites a public demonstration" The
truth Of the news IL no defense. The
cause of such a public demonstration
does not release the printer Of the
news-he goes to prison and pays
81 900 fine.
To print any criticism Of a public
Official is a heinous offense-punish'
able with fine and imprisonment.
Truth is no justification.
If an editor makes a mistake and
prints anything which the officials
find is "derogatory to the govern
ment" it shall cost him $500 and a,
month in jail. besides contiscation of
the newspaper.
AL who incur these penalties may
appeal to the courts, but the govern
ment oficials themselves are empow-
cred to enforce the penalties without
trial or any form of evidence. No
Jury can be called. If appeal TO courts
be made within seven days, the courts
can review the case, but in the mean
while the fine is collected and the
prison sentence enforced. regardless
of the laws interminable delay"
The decree goes into effect immedi-
ately, even while awaiting its consid-
Grafton in the Sejm. Like the rule Of
Judge Lynch, the culprit is sum-
marily hanged. and then the court may
spend all the time it pleases in quib-
bling over his guilt or innocence.
In Italy, liberty Of the press has
not existed since the Fascists gained
control of the government. NOW
Mussolini proposes to tntensify his
concentrated power-and no paper
dares protest-by abolition OF the
Parliament.
Dictator Mussolini says: THE new
economic policy is to work more ana
to recognize decisively all the sacrl-
fices that appear necessary ry-appear'
not to the people at large, az In free
country, but to Dictator Mussonhl anu
his Fascists in power.
At the height of his military con.
Quests NAPOLEON Bona parte said, l.!
7 loose the bride of the press l sna IL
not remain three months in power =
a. naive confession that the pen Is
mightier than the sword.
The Russian Cars, as well as 10.
dav's 1ictators-the late dictator OF
Greece. Kondylfs; Mussolini OF Italy.
pilsudski of Poland and de Rivera of
Spain-recosnize the peril to their
power in tolerating a free press.
The first act of the Soviets sup
pressed all papers which refused to
publish the Soviet political program
The direct result Of Official controi
or big business controi-of the press
is proportionate loss OF public con
idence and influence Of the press.
Wartime conditions justify any nee.
essary limitations on speech and
press. but peace cannot exist and
prosper without freedom.
II ~
Last month in Manchester, Eng
land. a bronze bust was unveiled in
honor of Mr.. G. p. Scott, upon his
s0th birthday, in celebration of his 56
years as editor of the Manchester
Guardian. one of the most influential
papers in Great Britain. In response
Mr.. Scott said:
"A free press IL essential 10 the
working of the modern democratic
atata.- A. .demccracy ufiuformed -is a