Liberty of the Press Threatened
PROMINENT among the liberties guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States are freedom of speech and freedom of the press. That these are essential to the maintenance of the republic was wisely recognized by the founders of this government. That an organized effort, backed by powerful influences, is now seeking to abridge these liberties is an ominous sign of the times. This effort is represented in two bills which have just been introduced by Roman Catholic members in the House of Representatives. Each is entitled “A Bill to Amend the Postal Laws.” The first one was introduced January 7 by Mr. Fitzgerald, of New York, and reads as follows:— “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever it shall be established to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General that any person is engaged or represents himself as engaged in the business of publishing any obscene or immoral books, pamphlets, pictures, prints, engravings, lithographs, photographs, or other publications, matter, or thing of an indecent, immoral, scurrilous, or libelous character, and if such person shall, in the opinion of the Postmaster-General, endeavor to use the post office for the promotion of such business, it is hereby declared that no letter, packet, parcel, newspaper, book, or other thing sent or sought to be sent through the post office by or on behalf of or to or on behalf of such person, shall be deemed mailable matter, and the Postmaster-General shall make the necessary rules and regulations to exclude such nonmailable matter from the mails.” The second bill was introduced by Mr. Gallivan, of Massachusetts, and provides the following:— “Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That whenever it shall be established to the satisfaction of the Postmaster-General that any person is engaged in the business of publishing any scandalous, scurrilous, indecent, or immoral books, pamphlets, pictures, prints, engravings, lithographs, photographs, or other publications which are, or are represented to be, a reflection on any form of religious worship practiced or held sacred by any citizens of the United States, it is hereby declared that the Postmaster-General shall make the necessary rules and regulations to exclude such matter from the mails.” The drastic character of this proposed legislation will be recognized at a glance. When it is known that the inspiration of this measure is the opposition of Roman Catholics to the circulation through the mails of journals and magazines opposing and exposing the principles, practices, and designs of the papal hierarchy; and when it is recognized that both bills place in the hands of one man, regardless of what his religious bias may be, the power to determine the character of all publications and to exclude them from the mails if he deems best, the far-reaching effect of this proposed legislation will be evident. To meet this new danger which has arisen, and to educate the public as to its true character and bearing, it has been decided to issue at once a sixteen-page extra of the Protestant Magazine. This will be ready February 1, and will be furnished for one dollar a hundred copies, or eight dollars a thousand. Thousands of copies should be sold or gratuitously distributed by our people. This question is one of real and not imaginary danger to the freedom of the press, and to the circulation of our own denominational literature. We know of no legislation ever proposed in Congress which suggested such possibilities of the abridgment of the liberties of the people as that wrapped up in these two bills. We feel that their introduction has created a real crisis which should be promptly met. We have never faced a more serious situation. There is afforded now another excellent opportunity for us to bring before our neighbors and friends the principles of liberty for which our denominational movement stands. We urge our brethren and sisters to determine at once how many copies of this Protestant Extra they will use in their respective churches, and pass on their orders immediately. Every home in the country should be visited. The size of the Extra edition will be determined by the orders received. All orders should be sent through the tract society. In this matter let us be minutemen, and act quickly.