Note and Comment

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · May 13, 1915

Freedom of the Press

It is interesting to note some of the comments which have been made by leading journals regarding bills, recently introduced into Congress, having for their aim the restriction of the liberties of the press, and the estimate these journals place on the attitude of Seventh-day Adventists toward these measures. The San Francisco Examiner ridicules the idea of danger. In its issue of February 11, which has an editorial under the heading “Adventist Friends Unduly Alarmed,” it says this of the bills which were introduced:—

There are no more alert and constant defenders of religious liberty than our friends of the Seventh-day Adventist persuasion. They watch with hawk eyes for legislation that might trench on that freedom.

At present the Adventists are disturbed by House Bill No. 20780, which would direct the Postmaster-General to exclude from the mails any book, periodical, pamphlet, picture, or publication whatever which reflects upon or criticizes any form of religious belief practiced or held sacred by any citizen of the United States.

We think our friends are unduly troubled by this bill. It is hardly conceivable that it will pass, in the first place, and if it did the courts would not permit it to be enforced. One of the few fundamental guaranties of the Constitution is the liberty of speech and publication.

Of course, the bill is ridiculous in itself, and would meet as much opposition from church men of all creeds as from believers in no creed.

Our Seventh-day Adventist friends should save themselves worry. A law so absurd will never be enforced while the American people retain their distinguishing characteristic, which is a keen perception of the ridiculous.

The San Francisco Chronicle in its issue of February 14 deals with the question more seriously. Under the heading “Freedom of the Press,” it makes the following sensible observations regarding the character of the bills:—

There is a bill before the House of Representatives at Washington which, if passed in its present form or in any form preserving its spirit, would strike a more serious blow at the freedom of the press than anything which has ever been formulated with a view to restricting human liberties.

As the president of the Adventist conference now being held in Oakland, observes, if such a law were enacted even the Bible would be excluded from the mails, because it reflects upon many forms of worship. Similarly, every other sacred volume could be objected to, since every declaration of a specific form of faith or religion is a reflection upon some sect claiming exclusive possession of divine truth.

Within the limits of Christianity there are many published rituals, prayer books, hymn books, and other compilations which could be construed as reflections upon other varieties of belief within the same faith.

In short, there is practically very little that is written which could not be interpreted as a reflection upon some peculiar religious people. Peace advocates could object to those who use the name of God in connection with military declarations, while the militants might object to those who preach peace in the name of religion.

But why multiply the possible absurdities when the basis of criticism of such a foolish law should be that religion is not a state department, and certainly not a subject for regulation by the post office?

And here is the great anomaly of the proposed law. Designed to prevent reflections upon particular religions, it is itself the greatest of all insults to religion, since it implies that the spirit of toleration cannot coexist with the spirit of faith. It is a blow at all criticism from the higher to the comment of one church upon another.