The Skyland post. [volume] (West Jefferson, N.C.) 193?-1988, 1939-01-26
PRESS VS.. DICTATORS

The democratic system of government,
which has made America the greatest ma
ton on earth, has been aptly defined as a
government of the people, by the people,
by the people and for the people,.
1t places individual liberty FIRST and
the very heart of democracy is made up of
three parts: freedom of speech, freedom Of
worship and freedom of press.
Through this great SYSTEM the majority
rule and in order that the people may be
informed on all activities of their govern
ment and their elected office holders, so
that they may determine whether or not
they approve of the actions taken, the con-
stituton of the United States guarantees
the freedom of the press, and places upon
this institution the great responsibility of
giving the people light SO that they can
find their own way"
Of cource dictators do not like the dem
ocratic system. They do not believe in
majority rule and therefore do want the
public to KNOW all of the facts about their
government. They want to keep secret
certain matters of vital concern to the
people and endeavor to destroy those indi-
viduals or agencies that do not conform to
their Wishes regardless of the fact that the
welfare of the public is involved
In our democratic system, public office
holders are supposed to be servants of the
people and should at all times give an ac-
count Of their stewardship. They should
not attempt to do things and try to conceal
such action from the public and if they
are not willing and anxious to let the
people know what they are doing they do
not deserve and should not be allowed to
hold such offices.
The first act Of Europe's two great die
threatening to plung the world today into
the greatest of all wars, was to suppress
the freedom of the press, freedom of speech
and freedom of worship. In Germany and
Italy the press is not only suppressed, but
it is also controlled by their selfish, power
thirsty, murderous dictators and they only
let the people know those things that they
want them to know.
The United States and England are the
only great countries in the world today
that have a free press and if it were not
for this untrammelled press the great de-
mocratic system of government under
Job
and individual liberties, such as we enjoy
would be destroyed or vastly reduced.
It is dangerous for the people to place in
the hands of any one, or small group of
men, the complete control and operation of
any government. The history of civiliza-
ton shows that they soon become intoxi-
Gated with power, lust and greed There
has only been one man born in this world
who should become supreme ruler and that
was Jesus Christ. And the significant thing
is that Jesus believed in the supremacy and
divinity of the individual, which is the con-
cept of democracy.
Today the world is facing it's major crisis
of all times. Science and invention have got
ten ahead of the ideals of man, and the
salvation rests upon free press and upon
Christianity.
Unfortunately there are forces here and
in this country that would like to throttle
and destroy freedom of the press by plac-
ing all kinds of pressure upon it, News
papermen and women are not perfect, but
most of them are dedicated to the high
ideals of journalism and to the great cause
and service to humanity which they dill
gently endeavor to render and at all times
trying to be fair and impartial.