The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1905-09-07

obscene literature, or by social acts aud
practices, as immoral acts, indecent
exposures, gambling, betting, on elec.
tions, etc. Every statute, punitive,
supervisory or regulative of any act, is
a refusal to recognize the existence OF
any natural right Of any person topur-
sue the dictates OF his own will regard
less of the welfare of those OF his fellow
men with whom the duties or exigencles
Of life may bring him in contact u
men who talk OF the absolutism OF
natural right would think where that
doctrine leads they would see its ial-
lacy. There could be nothing but chaos
where every man followed his own
LUIS, greed, passions, appetites, oc.
Gu ration or business unrestricted by
lsss or regard for the public welfare.
Individual right is fine in theory, but
an irridiscent, impossible dream in
practice. The advocates OF the saloon
do not practice any such doctrine, The
mothers, wives, children, brothers and
sisters Of these men have a right 10 the
best that can be afforded for their
pleasure and advancement. Why do
not the advocates, keepers and patrons
Of the saloon give their wives, child
rem and relatives the benefit ~ of its
surroundings? Simply for the reason
that they know the sights, conversation
and surroundings of the saloon are pro-
ductive of evil. They take them to
church, (perhaps,) to the theatre, cir
Gus, fair, lecture, school exhibition,
dance, or other social gathering, but
to the saloon! Oh, no. They do not
take them there! When the things
they hold out TO Others are applied to
their own kith and kin they do not be-
lieve in the doctrine they teach. Sup
pose the lady teachers of our schools
should stop two or three times daily
at the saloon land according to the
saloon ethics they have right to do
sol for drink OF liquor, who would
complain quicker or vociierate louder
than the keeper aud its advocates
against her retention as "a teacher Of
their children?
II is said the rich can buy by the
jugful. but the poor have no recourse
but the saloon. A poor man who is
able to pay at the rate OF s12 TO SIG Il
gallon over the bar would be ably to
pass3 u gallon by the ,jugful, would he
not?
II is said, Punish the individual
who becomes intoxicated, This is
equivalent to saying the public should
accept license fee and authorize the
sale OF an article, and them compel the
purchaser TO pay over to the public
some more mOuey for using the article
purchased. Both these processes on
the part of the public exhaust the re-
sources OF the citizen and deprive
families Of needed comforts.
In economies, unproductive consum.
tion of capital and destruction are the
same. Therefore when the law au-
thorizes the sale OF an article that
brings no return and then exacts money
(fnes) because the citizen uses that
article, the law does not protect but
plumbers, the citizen.
II Is said our county will lose $500
income. Well, who pays this $500?
1t is the poor man who buys the liquor,
is it not9 A license is merely an in
direct tax on the consumer ofa licensed
commodity.
In the three years last
past nearly all the large transporta.
tion, mining manufacturing and bus
mess corporations have taken very
strong ground on this question, and Or
ders are very stringent as to the EN-.
p loyment Of persons addicted to the use
of liquors, and at the present time aud
in the future the saloon not only takes
the present means OF its customer with
out giving any productive or useful
equivalent, but it reduces his oppor-
tunities for earning more, and we'll
nigh destroys all opportunity for ad.
vancement to the more responsible and
lucrative positions.
Reader, what affirmative good TO the
individual or TO the public did you ev-
er know to emanate from the saloon?
The arguments of its advocates are
mere defensive apologies for its exist.
ence. They point to no affirmative
good, and that which produces no az
firmative good may well be abolished.
1t is said there are those who signed
the petition who will not vote for the
measure. Such rumors are doubtless
untrue, Such action would be unfair
TO the public. Should one sign pa
per that may put the county 10 the ,eS-
pense OF an election and then decline
IN vote for thai for which the petition