Arizona sun., 1960-12-29
If Freedom Is Enjoyed
Freedom Must Be Granted

If we preserve our heritage and continue as free
men we must face up to problems; recognize them
for what they are: discuss them honestly frankly,
forthrightly ~.
literate the literate the conformis the nonconfor
ist L. all are entitled to freedom OF speech
In the contempt trial of Medgar Evers in Hattles-
burg Jimmy Finch district attorney, said that people
should 'stop and think before we pop OF ana speak
out against the courts that guarantee our freedom
13r,at+ has been telling our people He says that the
judicial pattern of today is threat to the freedom Oh
every man. woman and child in America.
Our speaker of the house, Walter Slers an emil
net attorney has warned repeatedly that our people
should guard against the intrusion of the courts upon
the individual liberties of our people In this warning
he is Joined by Joe Patterson, state attorney gen
eral the Citizens Council many other trusted officials
and editors of our state. 'l
. The purpose of the courts is to guarantee our
freedom But we should forget that the courts car
be the means of deprivino men OF their freedom
I'm Eiirope's recent history many courts became
agencies of tyranny Within the past "a months; just
on mes off the coast of Florida the world has
what can happen when the courts make political prs-
oners of men who refuse to conform
our governor our two United States senators, our
legislative leaders voicng criticism OF the courts Ano
in ail and fine of $10O because he too criticized
court co It.. - y
We are not so naive as not to know that thousands
of our fellow Mississippians have applauded Judge
Stanton Hall for sentencing this Negro representative
of the NAACP for contempt OF court
Yet after all of the criticism which has been di-
rected at our courts who is it that is landed in jail Is
it Gov Barnett? No. Speaker Walter Stiflers? NO
Either of our two United States senators? No. The
individual happens to be Negro who represents the
most unpopular organization in state and one to
which we as segregationStS do not subscribe
There are other practical aspects to this situation
The State LEGISLATURE created the State Sovereignty
Commission It appropriated funds to this Commits
sion TO- send sneakers the nation to dssuade other
Americans from believing the charges antagonists nave
made against Mississippi.
The most severe charge repeatedly levelled against
Mississippi is that Negroes do not get justice IN our
courts Some of this criticism has been valid But our
courts have travelled far and admirably in this area OF
justice in recent years.
Today Negroes attempt to enter a white college:
the five sacks of stolen chckenfeed the sentence OF
years at hard labor and the contempt OF court
conviction. being discussed all over the United
States Right or wrong Mississipps antagonists are
making the of it. One practical aspect OF this sit
uation and for which the courts not respon-
sible is that court decision in clean sweep can
offset months of work by the State Sovereignty Com
Sippi to America.
ANY court should hold any citizen in contempt OF
court if he fails to carry out the order OF the court or
should he obstruct justice Nevertheless, there are
times when criticism of courts is function OF IN
diyidual freedom. No agency OF government shoulo
get far away from the people as to deny them the
right of free speech in discussing it.
So long the humbleSt citizen can express MS opl-
ion America will be free But if this humblest cltl-
zen is denied this right today all OF us may be slaves
tomorrow: This is the lesson of history.
jackson, Miss, State Times Dec. Z, l9oU