The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1958-10-03
NEWSPAPERS GUARD WORLD FREEDOMS


tain aspects and military affairs The charge
against him publishing which expressed hatreo
and hostility towards government Although he was Ia
ter acquitted Of the charge, although new charges Were
filed against him. although newspapermen around the world
protested he still under house arrest IN March, 1905
That is not isolated instance of how government
against outspoken editor In many parts OF the
world today authorities are trying TO suppress eoiora
voices which they fear.
few months ago. for example authorities in East Ger
many fired Heinz Schmidt editor of the paper Eulensple
eral warnings.
15vear-od Turkish newsboy was arrested for shout
ing the headline Finance Minister Resigns the streets
of Ankara in August 1855 He fined the equivalent OF
$35 month Turkish publisher was sentenced to
six months in Jail fined SITS for insulting the govern
ent" his third conviction in little more than year
In Jordan just year ago. the cabinet banned the week
y paper Saree for two months had regularly criticized
a cabinet member
One could continue such instances almost indefinitely:
the u S. correspondent barred from Haiti early this year
because he wrote stories unfavorabe to the government the
Polish editor forced to resign last February because ne pup
shed making fun of the Soviet Union the British
correspondent expelled from Albania because OF story de-
famatory' to the government.
Restrictions the of the world seem to have m
creased severity in 1857 according to the semi annual
survey of press conducted the Associated Press
Censorship was general the Middle East In the East
European sphere of Communist influence the domestic
under tight controls and Western correspondents knew
that they could be summaiy expelled their stories pub
shed abroad ked the regime In Malaga and Singapore IN
Spain Portugal in South Korea and Indonesia In Egypt
and Israel Cuba and Tunisia-in all of those and
others the press under varying degrees of control
answer of course obvious The press dangerous
envy of tyranny It is constant threat to those who would
use their power capriciously or corruptly.
Freedom of expression the freedom which all other
freedoms depend For so long as men are free to speak their
minds long the free to print the TRUTH no V
rant can be sure of holding people in bondage
The press watchdog to sound the alarm when per-
sona are wben be
wrote George Washington mo government ought to be
without eensors and where the press free no one ever w
be- vtuous need not fear the fair operation OF attack
and defense"
other parts of the world may have strong temptation
to feel complacent. We must not be.
There is profound truth in the cliche that the battle
for freedom 1t must be Waged continuously
for people which takes its freedom for granted IS IN DAN
ger of losing it.
Even in free society such ours, live under the
perennial danger that will lose of our freedom
by default One very real danger that the various govern
mens from local through national will hinder the full and
frank discussion of public affairs by denying the
information democratic government derives its
selves wisely without knowing the issues stake without
having to the facts which sound opinions are
based James Madison put it this way "a popular govern
without popular information the of acquiring
is but prologue to farce or tragedy perhaps both
In recent years there has been increasing tendency
for officials levels of to withhold in
formation from the people This tendency has been strength
ened by number of recent history two world
which accustomed secrecy out of military
necessity the growing influence of government at every
level the increased business
acted by appontees only indirectly accountable to the pub
lie the need for military security in the uneasy peace which
call the Cold War
AS long there have been printing presses England
and America authorities have sought to peetuate
their power and to keep the public mind in shaces by with
holding certain types of information The British press af
ter long struggle the right to publish
debates only 1771 and 172 The ban reporting Paria
men carried to this country that the early Co.
lonial legislatures were not open to public scrutiny
Even today much of public business is conducted in
at the national state and local levels Congress holds
than onethrd of its committee meetings in secret
though the rules require that most of those meetings
be open the public Department heads of the federal
eminent have denied the to information about
activities under their jurisdiction the basis of house
keeping statute passed in 1889 giving them custody of their
papers and files Only small minority of esust
fvhave suitable laws guaranteeing open meetings of pub
lie bodies at the state and local levels according to study
published last year by James E. Pollard of Ohio State Uni
vesity Another five have such laws which apply at the
local level only Nearly onethrd of the court proceedings
Philadelphia in 1858 closed according to another
study Those just few of the depressing statistics
In addition military security has become convenient