Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1857-03-13


natural right to drink Just what and when
they please, but they have no right to in
duce others to drink what will injure them
or the public. Society has rights which in
dviduals must not invade. Individuals
have perfect right, 80 far MS society or gov
ernment is concerned, to do Just exactly |
what they please, provided they do not in
vade the rights of others. All the mem |
bers of society have an equal right to be Sc
cure in their persons and property. Gov
Government is instituted expressly to re-
strain the liberty Of individuals, 50 far as to
protect each from the rest. Each may do
as he pleases, except he plcases to do that
which conflicts with the rights Of others -
But no one can be Justly allowed to tramplc
on others rights. The object of law is to
secure every persons rights against the dep
relations of every other person. The object
of social compact is mutual protection.--
The State has right, and it is its duty, to
compel every person to keep hands off from
his fellows, and TO do nothing which may
conflict with their just and proper interests,
or which may interfere with the health, the
prosperity, the peace, orhappiness of society.
1t is upon this plain principle that the State
may prohibit gambling, the traffic in coun-
terfeit money, and in spoiled or sick meat;
that it !I@y prohibit forgery, the carrying of
concealed weapons, and burning of ones own
property in such close proximity to his neigh
bor's as to expose that to destruction. By
the Same principle, it may prohibit the own
or of a fcrocious tiger from opening its cage,
and permitting it to pounce upon defence
less multitude. 1t may decree the destruc-
ton of such milldams as send out pestilcnt-
ial masma and sicken the people. And, in
} truth, all these powers are essential to the
very existence aud sclfprotection Oft State.
1t may prohibit anything and everything
which proves to be a public nuisance or in
compatible with the good and safety Of soc-
ety. Every individual has n right to de-
mand of his Government protection from all
the acts of others which would interfere with
our own just rights and interests.
Now, K seems to Inc most incontrovort.
ible fact, thai the liquor traffic is public
nuisance of the most aggravated character
that it does entice ard allure the unwary
and incautious to ruin; That it alures its
victims first to moderate dissipation, and
) then to beastly drunkenness; thai it pois
ons their blood, fires their brains, stup;ties
J their moral sensibilties and then lets them
loose on society, to act the .fend-to crush
: the bleeding hearts of trembling wives and
terror-stricken children-to WELD the muir.
derous weapon, or to apply the torch to oul
buildings, or perhaps to jeopardize our live,
S in the public stage, the railways, or upor
r the perilous waters Are we entitled to nc
protection from all these? Must we be for
ever taxed on account Of the paupcrism and
crimes produced by the rum trade, and be
, subjected to all these perils and losses p
Have we no redress? Is the destroying
} plague to roll on and on forever? Why arc
we here9 Why these stately walls-thi,
Palace and Halls of surprising grandeur
Why all this vast profusion of expense thai
surrounds the law-making power, if the peo
: pie are not to be protected from the mora
!, pestilence which sweeps like the blasting
0 sirocco, over all the relations and interest:
! of life? Think We, that men have an ina
e lienable right to make maniacs, to disturb
), the peace and safety, and destroy the live
: of their fellow-men? No, no. We demand
h protection. We demand to be relieved from
n the taxes which the rum-traficker impose
l. on us, to support the paupers, and to punisl
), the criminals which he makes. When w
h take public stage, we demand that on
o lives shall not be put into the hands of
e drunken driver. When VIC travel upo
k your railways those triumphant results G
Il
n selves or our families upon the deep water
IS where multtudes have perished, we deman
r that our perils shall not be increased by il
is toxicated managers. And, finally, as "
c, can only have wise and good laws throue
t, the sutfiages of a wise and good good CO.
is constituency, we demand that the ballot be
is shall be protected from drunken hands,
J. That sacred instrument carries the publ
f. will into law. Whether that will original,
es in the cool counsels of enlightened reaso
es or in the orgies and revelry of drunkt
g rabble, it is the "por populi," the voice
es the people, and the law of the land tt
RS prosperity of State, doubtless, depen,
es more upon the virtue and intelligence of Il
is people, than upon their wealth. Therefor
lg if Alcohol is permitted to rule the State,
of elevate influential incbriates and drunke
r. demagogues to posts of power, and so co
er rupt both the Throne and the Emrine, VIII
x can we expect but growing demoralizatic
C. and increasing anarchy, and downwar
es political career and speedy overthrow
n free institutions?
c, All, say many, Moral iSuasion is I'll
D. thing. That is the remedy. Moral suasio
m they say, invades no natural rights. So a
is the grog-sellers and all the grog sucker
s say. They all oppose moral suasion, whe
&c we ask for nothing stronger; but now the
y are in favor of moral suasionl So, doub
: less, all your convcts in your Penitentiai
N would prefer moral suasion to such lea,
re suason as the State has chosen to prevol
i felony. Could there be resurrection frol
D the foot Of the gallows, all those wretch,
4 would tell us they would much have prefe
10 red moral suasion to the halter, as n preve
le ton for murder. If moral suason alor
$, is the best safeguard for society and Il
III most efficient and Just means of prcventir
,; crime, why not abolish all our penal laws
Or once! 1t would certainly be great accou
5 mediation to thousands of unprineiplc
10 knaves, all over the country; for they a
I'd much incommoded and troubled with Il
n criminal laws of the State. They have I
IN objection to moral suasion, but the crimin
laws very much obstruct their operation