West Virginia Democrat. [volume] (Charles Town, W. Va.) 1885-1890, 1888-11-02
PROHIBITION.

caliy false theory Oh Tue lunCIioh Vi
government and, before another step
be taken, it is necessary to determine
how far the free men of West Vir-
ginia are willing to give up every
preconceived idea ofpersenal liberty.
The exact point for discussion is
fully developed by one sentence from
the Wellsburg Herald: ae
Local Option begs the entire
question of whether one man may
rightfully compel another to live up
to the rule of right"
We deny that any man or set of
men may dictate what shall be the
''rule of right" in purely personal
matter; we deny that any man or
set of men may dictate the personal
habits and private conduct OF an in
dividual. when those habits or that
conduct do not interfere with the
rights of his neighbOr. The discus
sion is at present confined to this
single point.
There are two theories as to the
best way to promote temperance:
fanatics, bigots and enthusiasts pro-
Lose one way; statesmen, level-head-
ed men have different way. This
election will determine whether the
policy of this State is to be controll-
ed by fanatics or by level-headed
men. And it is well to remember
that If fanatics get control in one
matter they will have control in all
matters. The DEMOCRAT addresses
itself to thoughtful men, whose
Judgment may be reached by sound
argument.
Every one who thinks, reads his
tory intelligently, or has observed
social movements, knows perfectly
we'll that written law is practically
nugatory unless sustained by public
opinion; popular judgment is far
more effective than the words of Il
statute. Hence, in this matter Of
checking the use of intoxicants,
thoughtful men wish to practice the
methods of moral suasion, but the
fanatics clamor for coercion. Level
headed men are in favor of Local
Option; they desire to educate local
public opinion until it is ripe for
closing the saloons; the zealots in-
sist that distant and nonresident
voters in one community shall con
troll the domestic affairs of another
community. The truth is, this Pro
hibition movement grows out OF a.
theory that one set OF men, who fan
cy themselves wiser or more moral
than others, may compel all persons
to adopt their ideas and to live up
to their standard of what is right
and expedient. 1t is precisely the
proposition, that if one religious de-
nomination. has majority In the
Legislature, it may compel every
other denomination to conform to
the creed which that majority thinks
the true creed. Here, then, is the
/ line betw the ProhibitiOnists and
Local Option men; and We thought
the day was passed, at leastin West
Virginia, when it is necessary to
point out this plain and fundament-
al distinction.
This Prohibition movement is be
ing engineered by people who have
not the faintest conception OF the
proper functions of Government;
thev are men of disordered intellect,
who lack that calm Judgment which
| is essential to deal successfully with
the affairs of the world. They as
sumo that Government should deal
with grown men, as a parent deals
with his child. They entirely forget
that the domestic relations are based
on the natural instincts Of the
strongest character and totally diff
ferent from the feelings of 4 citizen
to his Government. Forgetting this,
they propose that the Government
shall exercise authority like that en-
trusted to a parent. Here is Il great
and dangerous mistake The prov
incc of Government is to protect life.
liberty and property; it is total
departure from its Legitimate func-
tious for a Government to meddle
with the personal habits of Il citizen,
unless they inteefere with the ghts
of others. The use of tobacco is in
furious, and many fanatics insist
that the Government should prohibit
its production Ny chewing does
not damage you; the circumstance
that YOU dislike tobacco is no reason
why YOU should forbid Inc to use it.
In .his matter the government has no
more right to interfere than my
neighbor. 1t is entirely different
between father and child; the father
is presumed wiser than his son and
parental instinct is trusted to induce
a beneficial exercise of authority.
But Government is based on the idea
that. as regards grown men, each in
dividual is qualified tn decide for
himsel in respect to matters of per-
sonal habit. WHAT'S said Oftebacco
applies to whiskey. 3 You are not
obliged to drink 1t; we advise you
to let it alone; you are at liberty to
do NJ vnn nlaaSa hut vnn have no