Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1938-05-12
Hague's Performance Is
A Throwback to TYRANNY
To the Editor Of The Star:

To the Editor Of The Star:
We witnessed last week in the city Of
Rome, Italy. show no doubt intended
to sway the mob psychology of a frenzied
people. With its pomp and pageantry
the effect hoped for by those who stimu-
late such propaganda was direct and
timely. But, pray be to the immortal
shades Of Washington, Jefferson and
Lincoln, did we ever expect that the
same tactics and strategy of unscrupu-
lous totalitarian puppets would infest
the free CD democracy we now live
under?
Two Saturdays in succession now,
Mayor Frank Hague of Jersey City has
seen fit to eradicate the principles of
free speech and to deny to three upright
and patriotic American citizens the
solemn right endeared to them by po-
Htlcal document destined to make this
country the citadel of political and re-
ligious freedom. He has usurped a trust
and guarantee without which this coun-
try and its people would fall Immediately
into social and political degradation. He
has trespassed on sacred heritage
to which for sevenscore years and ten
every newspaper. periodical, library, edu-
cational institution and citizen has been
duly consecrated.
Free speech and press, the funda-
mental bulwark of any enlightened peo-
pie, Is as requisite in the progressive
evolution Of society as the reforms which
it enhances. 1t is medium through
which all mistakes of mankind can be
met face to face, out In the open, and
through which all propaganda of a fall
lacious nature can be counter balanced
with facts and the truth. 1t is needless
to say had this right been preserved in
certain countries on the continent
would we today be confronted with the
unsoupd and detrimental PHILOSOPHERS of
untutored dictators.
The philosophy Of such men is most
always short-lived, for sooner or later it
must give way to the enlightened con-
seriousness of public opinion. But it is
likewise unfortunate that such must at
any time exist long enough to retard
even temporarily the great advances
which lay in store for the human race.
In all the annals OF time and in all the
scrolls OF historical data do we ever find
a social order of political and economic
stability which choked off the advent
OF new theories in either industrial or
educational development. Would We for
one moment be content to scrap our
United States Patent Office and say to
those potential inventors Of the future
that their promises and hypothesis were
not warranted? How long do you sup
pose We as national unit could endure
the progressive march of time?
This same philosophy is as applicable
in the social sciences as it is in the
physical. Would it be wise to curb all
free expression and to deny constructive
criticism to those conscientiously striving
to better conditions? The press of Amer
lea should take this issue to the people.
1t goes far deeper than Hagues dislike
OF personal criticism. 1t is the core. the
root, the nucleus of American life. It is
through such an issue that you, the press.
can make this happier and better place
to live.
Remember the old axiom so logically
true, that one man finds a rock a
stumbling block, the other a stepping
stone.
BENJAMIN r. sTICKNEY. Jr.