The freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1886-18??, 1888-02-08
THE CONFLICTIN WHEELING.
Rev. Ulfert Steps Forth to Defend
the Saloon.
Rev. III. F. Dryden Accepts The
Challenge.
The Battle Made Lively.

A lively contest has arisen in
Wheeling In which two German
ministers of the city enter the field
as the champions of the Saloon.
Rev. M. T. Dryden of the M. E.
Church accepts their challenge
and makes the battle interesting
and lively. We give our readers
the following which was published
in the Wheeling papers:
Rev. Mr.. Dryden's Reply.
EDITOR News LETTER:
There appeared in the West Vir-
ginia Zeitung, a German paper of
this city, on the 10Th, an article
written by the Rev. Mr.. Ultert, to
which we desire to reply through
your columns. X
He declares his purpose to make
"boId and honest fight against
Prohibition.
LIQUOR MEMS HONEST FIGHT.
When, I would like to know, did
ever the whisky power of this
country make al honest fight? In
every state where this question has
been discussed and tested,
whether in the halls of justice, in
the legislature, or at the polls, they
have resorted to bribery, deceit,
perjury and fraud. Nay more, in
many cases they have resorted to
threats and acts of violence, in or
der to terrorize and intimidate the
temperance people of this land.
Yes, make bold and honest fight"
and for what? For the open saloon
with all its attendant evils. A
"bold and honest fight" in defense
of an institution that is robbing
the community of its material
wealth, bringing poverty and mis-
cry to thousands of homes, filling
our poor-houses, jails and state
prison, corrupting politics and pub
lie morals, and seeking to break
down and destroy everything that
is set for the protection of society
and the defense of the home and
the state.
THE PERSONAL LIBERTY PLEA.
The reverend gentleman tells US
he is opposed to the prohibition of
the liquor traffic, and to justify his
position be appeals to the constitu-
ton of the United States and the
word of God. Certainly, this is
high authority.
He is opposed to prohibition "be-
cause it interferes with personal
liberty, a right guaranteed by the
constitution of this great country"
Here he falsely assumes two facts
that the prohibition of the liquor
traffic interferes with the rights of
citizenship as guaranteed by the
constitution second, that the traffic
IN ardent spirits is a legitimate
business. In regard to the first the
supreme court of the United States
says: "The right to sell liquors is
not one Of the rights growing out
of citizenship of the United States,
The right to manufacture drink
for ones own use is subject to the
restriction that it shall not endan-
ger or affect the rights of others.
Ii such manufacture does prejudi-
cially affect the rights and interests
Of the community, it follows that
society has the power to protect
itself By legislation against the in
curious consequences Of that bust
ness.
SHALL GERMANY IMPEACH OUR ST.
PREME COURT?
In regard to the second assump-
ton, [ would answer that the same
judicial body has declared the liq-
our traffic to be not legitimate
business, but a public nuisance. 1t
says: eve cannot shut out of view
the fact, within the knowledge of
all, that the public health,
the public morals and the
public safety may De endanger-
cd by the general use of intoxica-
ting drinks; nor can we ignore the
tr~ L