The times-news. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1927-current, 1938-12-06
NEWSPAPERS OPINIONS
OUR RIGHTS AND FREEDOM

OOK KiGH AMI rNEEbS"
James Truslow Adams discusses, in the New York
Times magazine, Americas bill of rights, the body
of principles laid down in the first ten amendments
to the United States constitution. These embody
the fundamental rights of free men, Destroy the
bill of rights and freedom will pass from America
as surely as day passes into night
Bills of rights have been abandoned in the to-
talitarian countries, Mr.. Adams reminds. In Great
Britain and France there has been complaint
against unofficial censorships. "In our own Amer
lea we have seen free speech and free assembly
challenged-and upheld by the courts. Seeing these
things, cannot fail to realize that own bill
of rights under the protection of the courts is the
sole guarantee of the liberties of the individual"
Not only have the bills of rights been abridged
in otaitaran states but they are held up to scorn
as the weakness of the democracies. In point of
fact dctators cannot go forward unless the people
are stripped of their rights vital factor in con-
troll Of the people is control of the press A free
press is feared by the Stains and the Hitlers and
the Mussolinis. They would be hampered greatly if
newspapers were permitted to report what goes for
ward in their countries. American newspaper read
ers knew what was happening in and to Czechoslo-
vakia during the recent European crisis, but the
people of Germany and of Italy knew little and
that little was what their government chose to let
them know, --
There have been many occasions Mr.. Adams
says, when "the personal freedom we cherish might
have been destroyed without such a bill of guar
antees and the supreme court to preserve them TO
US. Before citing illustrative instances we may
note that although it is often enormously said that
the constitution was enacted for the benefit of the
conservative and propertied classes the ten amend
ments constituting the bill of rights, which is the
very heart and soul of the whole instrument came
straight from the insistent demand of the socalled
'common,' and to large extent the RADICAL people
the farmers, town artisans and others as we'll as
leaders of the democracy like Jefferson and Madi-
son." ..' r..~ ..-n ...
Personal liberty in the past has been threatened
by both the executive and legislative branches "In
general the threats from the former have come in
time of war, notably under Lincoln in the civil war
and under Wilson in the World war and following
it. In both cases to large extent congress con-
Cured. In 1920 freedom of speech and press.
as well as other personal liberties almost disap-
peared for the time being, the courts alone uphold
ing them"
I Mr.. Adams warns of the storms of new, politi-
cal philosophy, sweeping over nation after nation
(which we have hitherto considered as highly, eul
IuASu anu 0iNihAHSu' DuI Ill WINCH personal rights
and liberties have largely ceased to exist Think
what has happened in Austria, in Czechoslovakia
and what now is happening in GERMANY Point by
point, one can go through our. own bill. of rights
and see how each specific guarantee once regarded
as the right of man even there, has been swept
away. There is no right of person or nronertv
Inere Is no right of trial Cruel and unusual pun
lsnments' nave become commonplace at the within
/ OF oletatofla agent. Now even the concentra-
tion camps pale into the background of a terror
officially inspired against whole section of the
people whose only crime is being in a minority"
\, AS long as the American bill of rights shall
Seanu' and no longer, will Americans be free There
uangers on the horizon. If the people shall not
choose TO see them and to strive to protect them
serves 1fom sweeping changes in pleasant masque-
taue' tney will be in peril Of being, stripped of
@ielr rights. Sinister forces are working to make
government master of the people. If war should
come how many American people understand what
would happen tostheir freedom under law already
IN the federal code? How many South Carolinians,
now many Charlestonians; have read that law, and
having read it, understand it? Mr.. Adams sounds
an alarm. which should be Needed by Americans
telp Dill OF rights in their constitution is their sole
guarantee OF freedom from a totalitarian regime
the american people should be raising their voice
4 70 congress and demanding that federal encroacb-
nient upon their rights shall cease If no
tney will be in peril Of being shackled-
charleston News and Courier,