The Bryan daily eagle. (Bryan, Tex.) 1895-1898, 1898-06-26
Prohibition and Liberty.

Some believe that prohibition Of the
drink trafic Is an encroachment upon
the liberty Of free and sovereign peO-
pie. II one kind Of prohibition en-
eroaches upon Liberty. other kinds OF
prohibition must do the same. Prohl-
billion Of stealing encroaehes upon the
liberties Of the stealing part Of the
community. Prohibition Of forgery in
fringes upon the liberties OF the cheat
Ing part Of the people. But stealing
and forgery are nevertheless prohibit
ed. Il Is admitted that prohibition OF
the liquor trafic Is an infringement
upon the liberty Of the drinking peo-
pie a. much as the prohibition OF
stealing Is an infringement upon the
liberty Of dishonest people. But why
should Il not be proper 10 prohibit one
Of these evils as well as the otherg
We prohibit different kinds Of evil.
though Il may infringe upon the llbsr-
~ Of some corrupt people. because Il IS
for the general good. The drink evil
is prohibited on the same principle.
There are. however. some who are not
willing 20 admit that II Is a. proper
and just to prohibit the drink evil as
20 prohibit other evils. They tnink
that the drink evil should be licensed,
and thus be restricted. But who would
think u restricting forgery by giving Il
license? But II Il Is right 10 restrict
the drink evil 10 a certain extent. then
II must be right 10 let this restriction
extend as far a. necessary for the COM
mon good. even as FAR as unrestricted
neutrality-suspicious..
II Il Is proper and just 20 prohibit
the llquo. traffic at certain hours and
days-for instance. on election days
then Il must be proper aud just 10 pro-
hibit II twenty-four hours every day
and 365 days every year-if Il Is con-
sidered 10 be necessary for the general
good. n II Is right TO prohibit the
drink evil on election days. which We
all admit. then Il must be right 10 put
this monster evil under unlimited ald
eternal prohibition. The one Is pro-
hibition In principle az well as the
other II Is only a question % time
- we havs-saaaszced 20 handle
the drink evil we ought not TO handle
Il with velvet gloves; It mus be taken
hold OF with red-hot tongs Let the
limited restriction which the license
system advocates be extended 70 an UNI
restricted restriction-pr prohibition. LEI
the prohibition already acknowledged.
adopted and enforced In regard 10 GER
tain hours and days. be extended far
enough 10 include all hours and all
days, The fundamental principle Is
acknowledged by most people: name
~. that IL Is proper and just not only
20 restrict. but also 70 prohibit. the
drink habit for the general good Of the
people.
Why IL the drink traffic restricted
Because Il Is so utterly corrupt and
dangerous that even It's best friends ar,
afraid 10 let II alone without restric.
ton Of some kind. Why do We pro.
hibii the liquor traffic on election day
Because intoxicating drinks are hurt.
full, they weaken and becloud the In.
tellect, they disturb the peace. Great,
quarrels and disquallfy a person for IN,
faithful and intelligent performance o.
/ his duties as a man and a citizen. Blu
II II Is acknowledged that intoxicating
drinks are doing such an Internal an,
dangerous work as that. they ough
surely to be prohibited on all othe
days as well as on election DAYS. |
not, why not? People certainly nee,
the full use Of all their bodily and in
tellectual power on working days a
well as on election day.
Milwaukee. Wis.