| Show I A Free Press Press- T Torch arch Of World Peace Ag Again in as for fora a number of years yean past put the p press o of America observes Newspaper we week k This year the new newspapers papers of this this' nation might easily do a little tooting horn focusing public attention on the services the newspapers ne rendered during the war in so 50 many ways wars to mobilize the nations nation's might and millions for victory But it is ie the simple truth troth that the newspapers did no more and no less Jess war their their best than Americans as a whole did during the war Were We're proud of the job newspapers did but so 50 are we proud of the job Am Americans ricans did and w were we're re quite willing to simply share In the pride which all of ot us us' feel In a job well d done ne We think th there re is a far more impo important t subject for discusSion discussion discus discus- sion in Newspaper week eek this year year and and it is the s subject chosen by the leaders of or the nations nation's press aa as epitomized in this yea years year's s 's Newspaper week slogan A Free Press the Press the Torch of World Peace We Vc have had a free press in America for many years years years-it it isone isone is isone one of the basic freedoms guaranteed In La our constitution While it would be foolish to argue that freedom of the the press press has be bethe been the sole Bole driving force behind all our privileges privileges' a and d accomplishments accomplish accomplish- ments vents as 85 citizens of a 8 great democracy democracy- no careful student of political and social soda aff affairs would deny that freedom of the press Ii is an essential and fundamental base without which the whole structure of our democracy would crumble into dust The freedom freedom free free- dom dam to tell the truth the truth to criticize criticise e to discuss to expose to enlighten enlighten enlighten en en- lighten through the printed page is not only one of f the freedo freedoms freedoms free free- do doms guaranteed in our constitution it also is the freedom which guards and sustains all our oth other r freedoms It is inconceivable inconceivable inconceivable incon incon- so long aa as the press is 3 free to inform warn and arouse the citizenry there ere could be any successful effort by a would-be would dictatorial government to deprive the people of any of oi their other democratic rights With Villi a free press we have been able to guard and preserve the peoples people's rights and nd their superior status in control of their government We have with our freedom encouraged initiative and enterprise We Ve have prevented the rise of militarists militarists' or tyrants American freedom of the press has been in fact a a. torch lighting tb the way to peaceful progress and higher standards of living for this country Now as an aftermath of this great global war which saw American interests and responsibilities reaching out to every corner of the world we broaden our vision We know what a free press has meant in the way of the peoples people's well being being be tie- ing in the way of peace and progress in America We can with good reason believe a 8 fre free press would do the same ame for the whole world If we could have haye real reat freedom of expression throughout the world we would be well on the way to cutting the chains which t through rough the centuries have bound so many people to the thewl wl wheel eel of stagnation on subjection and misery Only a free people can be masters asters of their fate Only a free people can overthrow those who would exploit them for their own selfish purposes Only a free fre people can have tb the peaceful life free from war wars war's s horrors and suffering that all people in their hearts want Know the truth j and the truth shall make you free That advice has lost none of its power and meaning since it was first uttered almost 2000 years ago The truth made available to the peoples of the world by a free press can indeed make them free freeto to follow the path of peace and progress which they know knowin in their hearts is the only way to the better better- world we all seek t |
