Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-03-26

when we must concern our
selves with other problems
which effect the lives of
everyone. Because of this, /
am reprinting an article here
which I recently read which l
think is of great interest to
every member of our demo-
cratic union. 1t is timely and
important, and i think, well
worth reproducing and read
ing and re-reading.
Free speech is the life blood
of the Republic of the United
States of America. From the
Bill of Rights to the present
day, it has been a symbol of
democracy-an accepted right,
too easily taken for granted.
Again and again - yester-
day, today and tomorroW-the
lesson of slavery is repeated:
The abolition of free speech
precedes the enslavement of
man by only a moment. The
first act of any dictator on
coming to power is to gag the
people, thus sitting all Oopo-
sition. For proof of this read
today's h lines. And
w h yer free speech is
abolished, fear and suspicion
raise their ugly heads. With
out free speech how can a man
trust his neighbor?
But how may we preserve
free speech?
If the loss of free speech is
one of the greatest tragedies
a nation can suffer, we must
not only fight to retain it, but
we must cherish it and use it
wisely. Free speech is a re-
sponsibility as well as a right.
Free spee ech must be true
speech. Free speech implies
the right to disagree and to
state the reason for dissent,
but it does not permit re-
course to slanderous abuse.
All free-speaking men must
froWn upon demagogic shrieks
of hatred as they would upon
deliberate lies.
USE OR ABUSE
So, while we strive to main
tain freedom of speech, we
must not employ that freedom
to destroy our nations unity
by shipping at one another. No
one group, whether it be of
class, employment, state or
section, of race, national origin
or religion, should abuse the
right of free speech. If one
side breaks this unwritten law
of freedom, the other side is
not justified in following suit.
Free speech must not dete-
+ iorate into mud-slinging
Liberty must not degenerate
into license. Freedom of as
ser1bly must not end in mob
rule. And free speech must not
lower itself to vituperative
SANDER of those with whom
we are not in accord.
Free speech can be exercised
only by free people-those of
mature thought, who have
learned the lesson of self
restraint; who are capable of
studying the facts, weighing
he sources and then stating
heir own position clearly and
,almly - ready to listen as
we'll as to speak, open-minded
o arguments, but not willing
o compromise with tolerance,
Irrespective of cause, origin or
revocation. Look overseas
md then guard this precious
light with renewed vigilance!
The royal family of England
vent without hot water and
leat when maintenance men
t Buckingham Palace went on
trlke for higher wages. In
he old days that was known
s "leSe majestic" - meaning,
Better sit down and bargain,
ling, or Wen make it so hot
or you won't need a furnace"
A u. S. District Court has
uled that the Taft-Hartley gag
n political activity by labor
apers is unconstitutional. In
ortland, Me, a distraught
enator Taft said he couldn't
nderstand how the judge could
lake such finding. We've
OF news for Senator Taft
hose family owns the Cincin.
atl Times-Star. The term
free press" despite what he
lay think, has nothing to do
'irh the dry-cleaning industry.
The u, S. Chamber of Com
lerce has demanded that Con-
ress sell the Federal Barge
ines to the Inland Waterways
orp. Next we can expect
bV the Chauher that