The Power of Report.

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 178, 23 April 1919, Page 7

The Power of Report.

To put forth irresponsible words, because patriotic- or party feeling and public sentiment seenr to demand them, though it has become a habit, is none the less for that a stone flung at human happiness. To talk without sane and sober evidence that facts are aro as wo 6ay they are is to promote evil and perpetuate danger. 'And they, of course, who wilfully twist or pervert truth for tho public eye and ear from personal motives are always better dead. We ought all now to censor our speech and writings, not with our eyes fixed on the good of our countries, our parties, ourselves, but with our minds fixed on the one thought: "Truth," trying each his best to realise what is, Wore ho opens mouth or dips pen in ink. What paralysis will como on some of us, if wo do ('tis; slid what a blessing for mankind that will be! Do we realise the extent to which tho modern world relies for its opinions, on public utterances o.ud Die Press?" Do wo grasp how completely we arc all in the [lower of report? Any littlo lie or exaggerated sentiment from one with a bpo in his bonnet, a principle or an end to serve, can, if cleverly expressed and distributed,- sway us. away from tho truth. Do we realise'that? Granted that truth is ever relative—extract of common sense and tho widest knowledge possible—it is still the most, p.recious safeguard of harmony in human life. And what chanco.shall we get to know it if our Press and our public men do not honour it beyond all other.tilings? This matter of truth underlies everything;. The growth of democracy brings its importance vplwmonUy to the front; for "the people'' are of necessity more in the pflW'dg of report than the privileged, few, whose minds are better . disciplined, and to whom the sources of information aro more open. We talked of giving up parly in' tho war; wo did but substitute one great parly for all tho little ones. Now we have both, tho great and-the littlo party feelings to deflect report; tho times are the more dangerous. Here is a moment the like of which mankind has not known, so big is it with issue. For life love of our own species, let us- bo sober, and try justly to estimate things in their iruo proportions; let us purge ourselves of rancour and wipe the mist of blood out of our eyes; let us steel ourselves against credulity; above all, let .us not make false report I Honesty of thought and speech and written word is a jewel; and they who curb prejudice and 6eek honourably to know and speak tho truth are the only true builders of a better life. But what a dull world if we can't chatter and write irresponsibly, can't slop over with hatred, or pursue our own ends without scruple!-To be tied to the petticoat of Truth, or• coili'ed with the nightcap of Silence; who, in this age of cheap ink and oratory, will submit to such a fate? If tho dish has lost its savour wherewith shall it be spiced? Shall wo consent to be George Washingtons? Thd Palace of Truth has never existed, because it was known to )>o a silent place. We have preferred the Tower of Babble. Words and Actions, None the less does that tower point to the sort of sky that has hung over ns these last four years. ' If we do not want another oight million violent deaths, another eight million maimed and halt and blind; if we do not want Bolshevism and anarchy, lot us be sober, and painfully try to tell ' the truth. Tho whole truth, of course, \vo cannot tell, because we cannot see it, but at least we can tell nothingbut such truth as we do perceive, having done our best to perceive it. Report now rules tho world and holds' the. fate of roan pn the sayings of its many tongues. If the good sense of mankind cannot somehow restrain utterance and cleanse report, democracy, so highly vaunlod, cannot save us; and freedom, humanity, justice, all the glib words we have spoken, might just as well hove lain unuttered in the throats of orators, Words are actions in an age when words reach, as they do now, millions of minds which have no means of l&sliiig' them. False words and reckless words, and treacheries. .It takes all sorts to make a world, and the honest thought of even- temperament is welcome, ifaSpokon and written with sobriety, In no k mean mood. But in manipulated news. and argument, or in sentimental riot, 'lies the nio6t deadly danger to mankind. The crying needs of tho day in'-' all countries are clear and honest thought, jspjwr, utterance, find triie-rcjjMtr