National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-20

for the benefit Of tho governed, We are
compelled to admit that tho atheists, In the
minority though they may be. arc entitled
to recognition of their rights, the same %
the majority, under the broad and compre-
hensive guarantee of freedom OF speech
and thought to all citizens Of every creed
and belief While it may be the religion OF
one person to believe in the existence Of
God, it is equally possible that it may be
part of the religion of another to disbelieve
in that existence. Revolving - this argu-
ment may be to the prejudices of religion
lists, and obnoxious as It certainly, and very
properly, is to the overwhelming majority
Of our Christian citizens, II q nevertheless
based upon principles of abstract justice,
and, prejudice aside, must be accepted a.
unanswerable. Lawmakers and judges Of
the law may be subjected to the petitions of
prejudice for even the most sacred objects,
and while their sympathies may be aroused.
the evident demands of impartial duty re-
quire that their acts shall be stripped Of all
influences at variance with calm and dis
passionate deliberation. 1t Is for this rea-
son that we do not hesitate to congratulate
the people upon the rejection of the petit
ton.
No one win assume to dispute the au-
thority of Congress to provide for the sp-
pointment of q commission to investigate
the subject of the liquor traffic. The bcne-
fits to be derived from such an investiga-
ton are apparent; but the results are al
ready known, and the emily advantage to be
gained would reside in the official character
of the report of the commission. We know
now that alcoholic spirits are sdulterated,
drugged- poisoned. in fact-and that their
use as beverage is deleterious to health.
We know the proportion of drunkards in
the country to the number of sober. tenn
perate, or partially temperate men, and we
have statistics to show how much money is
lost to the community, gained, &C, &C, as the
result of the traffic. In fact, we know now
all that we can know regarding this sub
ject; and it is therefore certain that . re-
port from the proposed commission would
furnish US with no additional information.
1t would, nevertheless, be productive of
great good, for the reason that the official
imprint would add weight to the argu-
ments embraced in the array of facts and
figures. 1t is therefore to be hoped that
the commission will be authorized by law,
and that its appointment will follow as soon
as possible, SO that the report will be made
public without delay. No more suspicious
time than the present could have been &C.
lected for the movement. While the peo-
pie are aroused, and to q certain extent
excited, by the novel proceedings Of
the praying bands of women in the West,
the work of the commission will strike the
public as appropriate, and it will no doubt
receive encouragement from every section
Of the country.
While we thus declare our most hearty
of the objects of the commission,
we are compelled to enter our protest
against the accompanying proposition, that
the report shall be made the basis Of legis-
lative action to prohibit the sale of spirits
In any section of the country. 1t Is in this
aspect of the case that danger is to be ap-
pretended. The plain violation of the
Constitution and the rights of the States to
control such questions for themselves, which
would be included in general law for such
, purpose, is no more to be excused on the
ground of morality or for any of the numer-
ous forcible reasons that may be offered,
han the forced recognition Of the Almighty
BY people who do not believe in the exist |
.nce of Omnipotence. Congress no doubt |
has the power in the preparation Of in
ernal tax lAws to prohibit the manufacture
If injurious counterfeits, or the adultera-
ion Of taxable articles. but beyond this it
has no authority to interfere with the legiti-
nate business of making alcoholic spirits.
They are required both for chemical and
medicinal purposes; their manufacture for
,ther purposes cannot be interfered with
except in violation of the rights of individ-
,als. Let the Temperance people remem-
Der these facts. Let them take to them
'elves the lesson of experience as taught by
he prohibitory efforts of the East, and re-
that the traffic can only be sub
lued through moral influences; that the
'trictest laws are unavailing to prevent it,
md that whep they attempt IT, invoke the
1irect aid of the General Government they
provoke the antagonism of many true and
oval supporters of the Constitution.