Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1884-10-07

H8llIBES on Prohibition.
LIFE, LIBERTY, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPIs
NESS TIE LIGHT OF. TO-DAY. OUR PATH
gANDtHoPE N THE PoWER OF TKuTH
Extract from speech by Hon. TRos. Az
a6endr!cks On g Prob bition; delivered. at
; Council Bluffs, Iowa, Tuesday evening,
Sept ii, 1888:
The Platf form also declares the Republican.
party pledged in favor of Consti TUT onals and
statutory prohibition Of the manufacture
and sale OF intox icatings liquors And the
Democratic plat form declares opposition to
the same, and in favor of well regulated
license law. The De cratic position is not
In favor OF intempe AS. the Governor
OF indiana It became my duty to recommend
to the Legislature q proper policy for that
State. i said, / think experience iustifies
the adoption of the license system. The
amount for the license in each case
should be greater than heretofore: + should
be sufficient to make the party selling feel
that his interest is identified with that of
society in preserving order. This policywill
bring a large revenue into the school fund.
A proposed Constitutional prohibit
ton was much discussed in Indiana last
year. i endeayored to satisfy the people
that twas sound morals as well as good
policy to allow each man to decide for
himself whatever affected himself only, and
none others.
In the dark ages of the worlds history
the Church and State usurped the right and
power to regulate mems consciences, and to
/ coerce private Judgment and opinion.
no Tekn cffI To-,
superstition covered it in gloom and thick
/ darkness.
AT later period upon our own shores
bigotry and seldshness undertook yet
further to regulate and control individual
opinions and habits. Ispeak of the days of
puritan rule in New England,
But at last the time came when
the individual rights of men were to
be recognized and respected. The
clouds of ignorance and bigotry rolled back
ward, and the light of intelligence and
liberty rested upon our land, In the estab-
lishment of the great Republic and the sis
terhood of the States the people realized
Government shall exist for man and by his
authority, and not man for Government
Life, liberty and the pursuit of hsppi-
ness of right belong to each, without
supervision or control. And for hundred
years such freedom has been our boast.
4 Out AO8 Luz ElOuu 1eGGEuS.
/. Do you tell me that the use of certain
classes of food and drink is. hurtful to me ?
and shall my reply not be that must be the
Judge of that2
Inthese days when scepticism Of religion
is arrogant, and its champions are bold and
defiant, is the cause of christianity not in
greater peril than ever before
In but few years of agitation inf1delity has
spread over the country. 1t has increased
whilst intemperance has decreased. Is
the poison of infdelity not more insidious
and hurtful to the soul than intoxicants are
to the body How do you pro.
pose to meet the Influence that is i1ndern1in.
ing the minds of the people7 Shall we
appeal to law Shall the constitutions be
changed that We may put letters upon speech
and chains upon the press2 Shall we dis
perse the assemblies that listen to the bril-
liant orators as unlawful? You tell me
nay .; we will not go back to the practices of
the dark ages. Our faith and hope is in the
power of truth and in its influence upon the
human judgment. We will not enslave
man even that he shall admit and practice
truth. Each person for himself shall decide
what is true and expedient
We cannot exclude all from privilege or
right because it will be abused by some We
know that if the press be left free its powers
will be abused. 6currility and libel will
reach and wound many character and
many a home (; if speech be free SANDER
willpoison and kill the fairest fame and the
purest virtue and if all be allowed to use
ardent spirits some will become drunken.
IInfthese and other cases the remedy ofsso.
ciety is to punish the abuse; to protect the
4 privilege from,its abuse. IN
For third of a century under the constitu-
ton and laws of this State, it has been lawful
to erect, maintain, and use structures and ma
chinery for the manufacture of spirituous
and malt liquors, and to cultivate vineyards
for the production of wines. Relying upon
the constitution and laws for their protec-
ton and safety, many of the people have
invested their money in those classes of
business.
Vineyards are property as your orchards
and growing crops are property. The
brewery is property, guarded by the same
laws that protect the bankers safe, his
money and his house.
For more than twenty years the Govern
ment of the United States has declared the
product of thestill and of the brewery to be
property; has taxed it as property; and with
the proceeds of such taxation has made war,
discharged debts and maintained public
credit. And do you now ask me to Join
you in applying the torch and reducing to
ashes vast property which bears the sane
ton of both the Governments that are over
us? will not go with you. will not
join in the destruction of my neighbours
property which he holds by the same sane
ton of law which makes my title good.
Do you tell me that it is required of con-
science, and that you obey conscience ?
i Conscience requires you and me to be hon
est, and to pay our neighbor before we con-
fiscate his property. I am in favor of indi-
vidual sobriety and temperance, but will
not do wrong that good may follow;