The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1891-03-06
Cone unfcAls6.
ST. AUGUSTINE, Pa, March 2, 1871.
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Editor Cambria Freeman:
DEAR SIR:-''Ls~ IS fIed arrange
ment OF right reason promulgated for the
public good by the person who has charge
OF the community"
Every word OF this definition OF St
Thomas deserves study. We suppose the
Law restricting the sale OF Intoxicating
drink TO be a fixture OF right reason. And
xe have no right 10 criticise IL because the
state, having the right OF self-preserva-
tion ordained OF God, should know what
laws 10 enact for Its good.
We have the right, however, when the
laws made by the state are not observed,
TO raise our voice because we are part OF
the state The state feels necessity FOR
hotels for the travelling public; the state
knows that the sale OF Intoxicating drink
helps the eIistance Of hotels; but the state
knows also that the sale OF Intoxicating
drink has disastrous effect upon itself,
that is, upon the citizens who compose the
state. Where there is hardly any travel
ing public-where there is nothing but To-
cal disaster to result from the sale Of in
toIicstingtiquOr-ey e-y good and patriotic
| man should protest against the unscrupu-
| lousness and imposition. Why should
| three OF four lazy men, as many more
| incompetent, dswdling bondsmen, and
about dozen palliating signers lovers Of
| the poisonous cordial-hsve right TO
speak for whole parish OF upright, de-
voted citizens?
We will be told by these men and their
kind that We have no enterprise; that
| where there is no tavern everything IS
dead, and that people who do not like the
| tavern need not frequent IT. True, the
tavern stirs up signs OF life, but on second
| thought, those signs grow into great facts
OF death. The state cannot hear your
| plea with regard TO the nature Of liberty.
! The state knows that liberty does not con-
sist Of choice. Mans liberty on earth con-
| sists in that inaction which IS equivalent,
| or nearly equivalent 10 an impossibility OF
| choosing wrong. Who can calculate the
damage done 10 liberty by the Shlskey-
seller? Who so assists mans downward
path from liberty as he? Should not the
| profits accruing TO the state be great when
! the damage done by strong drink is meal
| culable? Strong drink is not an evil all
| through, but its contagious, death-dealing
| effects should be by this time sufficiently
! known TO make even the most unmanly
man stir up the remnants Of his Unborn
freedom, 10 hurl his arguments OF quicken
ened intelligence and will against
the soul and body y-enslaving liquor traffic,
and TO consent to be taxed by the state for
| the purpose of making the law against the
sale Of strong drink eficacious, and of
helping decent men to keep decent, tenn
| perate inns where necessary. II IS not bad
| citizenship that allows the bad execution
| OF the laws. 1t IS is ignorance OF the d.
| vine law; ignorance Of the relation Of the
human to the divine law, and OF the obli-
CATION Of conscience TO the fulfilment Of
| both.
Our best people take no interest IN poll
| ties from a mistaken idea thai IL makes no
| difference. 1t makes all the difference in
the world whether the ~hiskey caucus
| chooses our legislators, our school direct
1 ors, and our roadmakers. II We wish TO be
| free, We must free ourselves. We must
know the truth and We must cast our vote
conscienciously. Let US uproot the evils
one by one, and in the force OF our renewed
| ardor, let US attack our worst enemy,
strong drink, and let Us as worthy citizens
| OF the United States, drive IL from our
| coasts only inasmuch as IL is strictly ne
cessary. S. A.