The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-13
PATERNALIsM IN GEORGIA.

A bill has been introduced In the
Georgia Legislature to prohibit the sale
OF cigarettes or their importation into
the State.
This calls forth a strong editorial from
the Atlanta Constitution against gov
eminent patern1lism. Among other
things the Constitution says:
I'VE regret TO observe a growing ten
dency on the part OF many worthy people
to demand paternal legislation. Such
legislation is not only unwise. unneces-
sary and un-Democratic, but It causes
great many people TO lose respect for
legislation that is not open 10 such OBJ
jections When the public discovers that
a law over which a great deal OF fuss
has been made and for which much is
promised, cannot be enforced on account
Of its unconstitutionality. or because
public sentiment is opposed 10 1t. there
is, TO a certain degree, a loss of respect
for laws that are not unconstitutional.
I'VE have no doubt that such measures
as this anti-cigarette bill are introduced
merely TO satisfy the within Of some pet
ulant or ignorant constituent who is i'm
pressed with the idea that the State
should be a mother and father to all its
citizens, and take active charge Of all
families. For 1t is not possible to sup
pose thar there Is member of the as
sembly but who knows that such a law
as that introduced in the senate Mon
day is unconstitutional and cannot be
er forced"
This is the soundest Democratic talk
we have seen in the Constitution for
many days Old-fashioned Jeffersonian
Democracy was built on the principle of
individual liberty and as little law to in
terfere with it as is consistent with the
general welfare. 1t was summed up in
that grand old maxim that ''the best
governed people are tie least governed
people" The principle was that each
individual should be permitted TO man.
age his own affairs in his own way with
out interference, so long as he did not
trespass upon the rights CT others, and
the laws We're designed to protect him
in that right, TO promote liberty rather
than 10 curtail it.
But in these latter days a new doctrine
has sprung up and there are those who
call it Den ocracy. These new doctrines
claim that il is the duty Of the govern
ment to take care OF 'fts subjects" TO
conduct the great business enterprises Of
the country. TO give employment to
working men, to pass laws that will en-
able certain individuals to increase their
profits and to exercise n sort of censor
ship over the morals Of the people. This
sort of thing has been preached until
many people have come TO believe that
individual success and the prosperity
generally of the country depends upon
the action Of government.
1t IS dangerous doctrine and we fight
it wherever we meet it and in whatever
phase it may present itself We believe
that individual success and the prosper
ity generally of the country depend upon
individual thrift and effort and we believe
that the great trouble with this country
is that It has too much law and too much
OF government interference with the pri-
vate affairs Of life. We believe that the
people are happier and better and more
prosperous the less there is Of govern
ment interference with their affairs and
their conduct. and we shall in the future
as we have done in the past, continue to
stand for the Democracy which guaran-
tees Edividual liberty, and which fos-
ters and promotes American independ-
ence, American manhood.