The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1881-10-28
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PRomIRaTI0N


hS0 v pun WIG shUoayI snas ~ AsAS@As@ -
agitation, the Irish people will ultimate
ly receive justice al the hand of the
English Government. We Prohibition
lists are of tho same opinion--that
through agitation we will accomplish q
great reformation beneficial to mankind.
Already my first effort in behalf of
Prohibition has borne fruit in the
shape of reply in the last issae of the
DEMocRAT from Freeman" Why
pervert 80 virtuous an anpellation by
coupling it with such base teachiBgsl
'sFresman," indeed rather slave to his
false ideas ofliberty. This individual
styling himself "Freeman" Ii either
nihilist or extremely ignorant of
true conception of liberty ~ understood
and taught by our American institn-
tlons. Would "Freeman," good
citizen, or law abiding man, advocate
and encourage violation OF the plain
ordinances of the law, simply because
his individual opinions happened to be
at variance with themf
It is true there IL an exception.
When the form of Government 10
monarchical or imperial, the law be-
comes oppressive in violation Of COM
mon right. The right of rebellion Is
inherent. But in our form of Govern
ment where all power emanates from
the people its the political, moral and
religious duty Of every person to lend
their aid, and enforce the peoples laws.
"Freeman'' may be in favor Of the
liquor traffic If 30 1t is bis nndonbted
right to advocate its merits before his
countrymen. He may DO in favor OF
allowing salooas to open on Sunday.
If Conscientious in bis opinions, no mat
ter how erroneous and degraded they
are, its his privilege either by advoca-
ey or other lawful means, to induce ia Q
people to change the laws, but the Law
being in force by act oi legislation and
ordinance of City Council il is unbs-
coming the dignity of good citizen.
ship to encourage its violation.
That We have such laws prohibiting
saloons from keeping open on Sunday
for the purposes of trade or disposing
of Intoxicating drinks, and that such
laws are being openly violated without
any license or interferense Of the Peace
Officers, whose duty il Is 10 see that
the law is inforSed, will hardly be denied
even by this erratic individual free
man." This Freeman" who is
in favor of desecrating the Sabbath;
who would pat the means OF temPta'isn
snare and stumbling block in The
path of every often well-meaning men,
who however haven't the furce Of
character tt overcome their passions
and destroying appetites, to drive them
down still further on the road of degra-
dation and drunken imbecility until
instead of being, "noble in reason, IN.
finite in faculty. in form and moving
exnress and admirable, in action like
an angel, in apprehension like god The
beauty Of the world, the paragon Of
animals" he becomes blotch and libel
on the being nature intended him TO Do.
With assuming presumption and I'M
sophisticated ignorance demands. "ls
shere q bigot in Oregon intoleraat
enough to insist upon the inforcement
of the Law. Angels and ministers OF
grace defend u.s. what manner OF man
Is this who through bis own diseased
mind sees bigotry in everything which
opposes him and in the Same selfopin-
ionated spirit appealed TO Paul the
most noble and learned Of all the
apostles, by citing and miseonstruing
some isolated passages OF scripture to
sustain him in bis ignorance.
a.The devil can cite scripture for his
purpose"
IAN evil soul producing holy virtues
is like villain with smiling cheek" !"
"a goodly apple rotten at The heart. "
10. what a goodly outside falsehoOd
hathp
"Would .Frceman" and his kind
serve bis fsllov-men with half the zeal
that he displays in encouraging viola
ton of established laws and opposing
good and wholesome laws for the bene-
lit of humanity his course would excite
the praises and commendation Of all
just and respectable people and in ths
future between the present along that
journey to "that undiscovered country
from whose bourn no traveller returns, /"
as he gazes upon the path strewn with
the wreck of anticipated greatness, the
crime, the misery, desolation and woe,
the immediate cause Of that damnable
curse intoxicating drink.
(Which every cup In unblessed and
the ingredients is devip. His con-
science if not entirely obdurate. would
be relieved of many self-accusing
pangs
do not wish at any time to enter .
discussion as to what day shall be OBJ
served as Sunday, or that it shall be
observed at all as holy day set aside
by God. Religion is foreign to my sub
ject. Ny theme is tho passage Of Pro-
hibitory laws. 1 care not whether ID
be Sunday or any other day, II the law
prohibits the sale of intoxicating liquors
en- one day, an hour, or even one min
ute, let the law be enforced, and he who
violates it let him suffer the penalty of
his crine.
My object in writing my former CON-
munication was to stir the temperance
people up to sense of their duty, to
agitate this question until Eofiicers do
their duty.