Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-01-17
The importance Of Freedom

A good text for our time can be found in
Chief Justice Earl Warren's address the other
night to the alumni Of Columbia College in
New York. In effect. 1t Is q text that reafirms
one Of the great fundamentals Of our American
system namely, the principle and practice Of
free inquiry, free discussion and free dissent.
There are those among US now--as there
have been in the past-who seem to be afraid
Of this principle and practice and who tend to
exalt conformity and orthodoxy as II they were
peculiarly patriotic virtues. So 1t Is good to
have man OF the Chief Justices stature
remind everybody that the United States has
become as powerful as 1t Is largely because it
has governed itself, since its founding. with a
full awareness that its well-being as demo-
cratic society demands tolerance for the multi
tude of views, ideas and tastes that people
have" and that its institutions it's progress its
health. wealth and happiness as free land,
would be grayely endangered by "any effort to
force the minds Of men into any one political,
philosophical or religious mold"
It is this-the stimulating presence Of unre-
pressed diversities within the framework OF
basic unity-that has made our Nation uniquely
strong. 1t Is what has saved US from the kind Of
social, economic and political thinking that
becomes stagnant for want of boldness, or
because OF 9 conformist timidity that initiates
against the blazing of new trails. Recognizing
the great value of the processes Of freedom
including the right to give voice to vigorous dis
Senting opinions, which often in our history
have become orthodox after having at first
seemed outlandish-we have built a country
that cannot be matched by the totalitarians in
either material power or intellectual and spirit
ual appeal. Relatively, in that sense, the totali-
tarians are weak. They are weak because in
their repressive system, q system that ruth
lessly penalties non-conformity, "AN must bow
to one creed one party, one faith. There Is no
room for diversity no room for free play Of
the mind, no allowance for the dictates Of
conscience"
Such system, since it stagnates both intel
lect and spirit, robs itself Of the progress that
comes from the inyentiveness of untrammelled
minds. And Chief Justice Warren sees in this
the bright promise that "the oppressive shackles
which communism places on people will be-
must be-ultimately thrown off, Liberty-not
communism-is the most contagious force in
the world. It will permeate the Iron Curtain
It win eventually abide everywhere For no
people Of any race will long remain slaves Our
strength is in our diversity. Our power is in
freedom Of thought and Of research" and there
will come time when such freedom win be
universal, when "man need not fear his neigh
bors on either side of political boundary lines"
and when knowledge acquired and exchanged
can be used for the betterment of humankind"
This may be too optimistic view. Even so,
as far as our own future goes, there can be no
doubt that we must hold fast to the essentials of
freedom If we are to continue to thrive as
Nation, The Chief Justice has rendered timely
service by eloquently emphasizing that point in
"a chaotic world where even the most funda-
mental values are being questioned, and where
the propaganda of fierce ideologies arouses the
counter toxins of fear, hatred and at times
even imitation"