Before any update about our Spring Webathon, a word about our honored dead, remembered this weekend, who died for the very freedoms — none so dramatic as free speech — that many on the American Left (such as the U.S. Senate Democrat caucus) now seek to suppress. The nation’s most charged legal battle on the First Amendment involves this very institution. In Mann v. National Review, our right to talk boldly, openly, with opinion, with gusto — a right purchased in blood and pain and sacrifice — is being sorely tested in our courts by the well-funded Left, which is intent on suppressing, if not criminalizing, speech that does not advocate the multicultural / elitist / SJW / social-engineering agenda. For them, the speech right may just as well boil down to Miranda: Conservative have the right to remain silent.

We will fight this fight till its end, which we pray will not be bitter (we are confident in our counsels’ talents and abilities). Insured for such, and not bankrolled by any kind of legal sugar daddy — like a George Soros, who is an ATM for the Left’s despicable causes — the fact is that there are many costs to this fight that hit NR’s wallet, and not that of our insurer’s.

We seek your financial support in this Spring Webathon, launched last week (to date $110,000 has been raised — thank you so much — and our goal is $246,000) for three main reasons: 1) To help us defray the costs of the suit, 2) To help us defray the costs of the rebuild of NRO (sorely needed, and under way, but the price tag is a not insignificant $500,000), and 3) To fund the position, also sorely needed, of an editor. Many have given, and have told us why, such as these kind NR friends:

‐ Thomas comes through with Benjamin Franklin–sized money and explains why: “I have been a subscriber since I was in junior high school and I’m now 60 years old. I have never witnessed an environment more hostile to our founding principles. Please keep fighting the good fight NR.”

‐ Another $100, this time from Jim, and a similar directive: “Keep up the good fight!! Make Mr. Buckley proud.” We try Jim. In our thoughts, always, is this: WWWFBD?

‐ My pal Mary from way out West sends $150 and the kind of cheering that one must admit — you like to hear: “YOU keep doing YOU, NR! Love the website (but agree, it needs some improvement) and even love my print version of NR. The writers are thoughtful and insightful and I feel smarter every morning when I read the Morning Jolt. I go to bed smarter when I read the posted writings in the evening. All around, I’m smarter because of you great work. Here’s my small contribution to keeping up your important work!” Nothing small about your generosity Mary.

‐ Now you have to love the way Peter, who gives a big $400, thinks and acts: “A dollar a day to keep Michael Mann away and $35 for a case of beer and a couple of pizzas for the writers on Friday. Enjoy!” Okay my friend, next Friday will be in your honor!

‐ In the Strange Bedfellows department, we received $25 from Joshua. I’ll let him explain: “I’ll be straight with you. I’m a 27-year-old, godless West Coast liberal. I agree with perhaps 1 percent of everything I read on NRO, and even that might just be a rounding error in the data. But I keep coming back, every day, because the work you publish is insightful, well-argued, and ‘above all else’ intellectually honest. There is no other publication I trust to push me out of my bubble and force me to come up with actual, reasoned explanations of why I believe the things I claim to believe. I know I didn’t give much, but it’s all I can afford at the moment, and I wanted to do my part to give back. Unlike many of my fellow travelers, I still hold free speech dear, and I want to see NRO survive and flourish for decades to come (into Chelsea Clinton’s third term, at the very least).” Thanks Joshua, and really — it’s time to let go. You know you want to.

But about this Joshua cat: There are hundreds of thousands of you who dwell on (rely on!) NRO, for the same reasons — insightful, well-argued, intellectually honest commentary on events and principles — and seek fulfillment from such. If that describes you, and you are a conservative, and an NRO frequent flyer, well, if a liberal like Joshua here can cough up $25, what about you?

Please help. You can make your contribution on NR, right here. If you prefer making contributions by check and mail, then make the check payable to “National Review” and mail it to National Review, ATTN: Webathon, 215 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10016. And if you prefer to make donations via PayPal, you can do that here. Whatever you do, this weekend remember the brave and fallen.