The Cecil Whig., 1886-06-19
Vhelleoplts Golumn
fon TIE CECIL WHIe.
TEMPERANCE VS.. PROHIBITION.

| nder this heading in a recent number
Of the Democrat is an editorial article
| spread out over two columns nearly o.
| that paper, that has been already noticed
| III The w HIG and at least one other of
| Cecil's weekly papers and would not be
again noticed by the present writer but
for the great Importance of the subject,
and the evident need there is to have the
whole truth fully given and understood
The only point that this verbose writer
has tried to elucIdate that is worth an
swering, in addition to what has been
already sufficiently done, is the common
error of all who are trying to champion
his cause. His logic reminds one of the
action of the cutie fish. This creature
is by nature endowed with the power of
emitting flood of ink that SO darkens
the waters all about it, that it can safely
elude pursuit from any ordinary enemv.
Total prohibition of the use of intoxi-
eating liquors can have no justification
except in the creed that their existence
is crime" BY this specious ,talse state
meHt of the real issue, and arguments
based upon other equally false premises,
he belabors his dummy to his own apar-
ent great satisfaction. Total prohibi-
ton of the manufacture aud safe of all in
toXicating liquors to be sold as dritk'
is very different thing from his state
ment given above, and he gets further
from the truth as he proceeds in such
logic, founded upon imaginary premises.
The pcrSoHm huGits of the iAdtciduaL are
not and cannot be made subject of
legislation. Any man is at liberty to
drink or eat what he chooses, [provided
he can get it) and so long as no other
mans "life, liberty or happiness" is en-
dangered we know of no one, even the
most radical of temperance men (whose
opinion upon any other subject would be
considered good) that would deny him
this right. SO, has he a HuturdL right to
commit self-destruction in any other way,
and no law can prevent suicide. He can
turn his home or his office into a me-
nagerie or lunatic asylum, and no one
has right to object SO long as no other
member of society is injured by his in
dulgence of his fancy.
The absolute right and necessity of
prohibition this editorial writer does not,
and cannot deny. When he has neither
right, law nor justice on his side he is
compelled to use the lawyers expedient
and talk around it, to confuse the Jury.
The right of the state to prohibt the sale
is granted by every license lac. The
right OF the st"te to prohibit the sale or
giving away of liquor on the Sabbath, on
election days, and to minors, is founded
on the right of the absolute prohibition
OF the manufacture and sale on every
other day In the year, and for the very
same reason, !. {. the public good and
safety. That man as a member of So
clety Is restrained from some of his most
evident natural rights is admitted. The
greatest good to the greatest number be-
comes the rule. Man living alone may
do many things that the laws of the
town will not admit, and will the editors
OF the Democrat call all municipal laws
''sumptuary." Shall town council alb
solutelY stop and fill up well from
which several hundred people may be
drawing water for their necessary use,
because the doctors have said it was not
healthy to drink it? And shall this same
town council license man to sell drinks
whose poisonous effects are known to
everybody? Do the doctors go to the
saloons for any other preparation that
may be used in medicinea Then why 90
for alcohol in any form. The stuff sold
in the barroom has absolutely no place
Ill the works of the chemist or artzan
and the exhausted toiler" has need of
all his evenings to provide food for HIM
self and comforts and education for his
family as well.
The knights of Labor have spoken in
no uncertain tones through their execu-
tive head on the criminal folly of this
absolute waste of resources, physical as
we'll as mental, to say nothing of moral
ruin that the drink cause is the parent
of. Laws are intended to protect the
weak and helpless, and there is none
more earnest in his desire to have the
curse kept out of his sight and reach,
than the unfortunate victims of the cup,
many Of whom have the craving for
stlmulant by direct Inheritance and are
entitled to our sympathy and where
needed our votes. We make laws to
protect sheep from dogs, and if need be
we kill the dog. Shall we license the dog
that kills our sons, our fathers or our
brothers? Shall we u1u==le him or let
him go on if he will only give us a part
of the .tcsh he has torn from our bodies?