Evening journal., 1907-10-14
THOSE WHO WANT PROHIBITION
SHOULD PROHIBIT THEMSELVES

The above caption is verified by the
fact that every official, national, state
and municipal, swears allegiance To
the constitution, not to the party. Bnt
right the reverse is the case in the
government of this country; the con-
stitution is in a great degree ignored
for the purpose of party interests. In
his speech at Hillsboro, o., Senator
Foraker is reported to have said: mo
greater calamity could befall this coun-
try than for it 10 change it's consti-
tuition as to authorize the Federal gov
ernment to deal with all or any con-
siderable part Of the subjects over
which the states reserve control. To
say that the constitution has become
obsolete is simply to deal in rhetoric
which violates sentiment as well as
contradicts facts"
The constitution does not need
changing, but the Federal government
docs The constitution has not become
obsolete but it looks to a keen OBJ
server that the American statesmen
have. The constitution commands the
Federal government TO maintain a re-
publican form of government in every
state in the union" and that is a right
eous command, because upon no basis
of justice can sectarian mobocrats
rule; people can have the liberty TO
form opinions and quietly enjoy them,
but they have no constitutional or
moral right to coerce their representa-
tives to make alien laws to carry their
ideas out. No state can legally re-
serve the right TO exercise other than
a republican form Of government, but
the alien states have ignored that con-
stitutional command. in the interests of
party and the Federal government has
carelessly or designcdly allowed them
to do so. "No greater calamity could
happen to this country" than for the
Federal government to give the states
the power to secede from sound, re-
publican doctrine. based Upon equal
rights for all, and to set up whatever
kind of government they please upon
the vicious basis OF mob rule The
union of states and the inalienable
rights of man should not be so placed
in jeopardy. But that is where we
are today and no matter how much
the care of the states would swamp
the Federal government il is duty
bound to keep all the states in sound
republican line. No greater calamity
can befail the country than the lack
Of Americans on guard at the front.
The Federal government is more liable
to be swamped by permitting the states
70 secede from republican principles
than by faithfully attending to it's
sworn duty We agree with Mr.. For
aSer that 'the great purpose Of the
constitutional barrier was to resist
storms of passion in times of undue
excitement as a safe guard for the
stability of our Institutions" Why,
then, is the fanatical storm of prohi-
bitive passion allowed to break down
the constitutional barrier and be all
lowed to triumph over the inalienable
rights of hard working American citi-
zens wherever it has the power2 Why
is the fanatical storm Of passion now
rampant in the Anti Saloon League in
the name Of Christ and His Church,
now allowed to enter the political field
in spite Of the constitutional principle
that religion shall not rule the state 2
Is it because Americans have become
obsolete in the State and Federal gov
ernments? No state can legally reserve
the right to let religious fanatics rule.
The constitutional barrier was pur-
posey made to prevent sectarian rule.
The union of states and the rights Of
man cannot be preserved by allowing
secession from constitutional principles
by any part of different ideas.
The union of states and the rights
of man can be maintained only by ma
tional, state and municipal govern
ments being run upon republican prin-
ciples. The introduction of a police
power upon the basis Of mob rule is
to open the way for the destruction of
the whole righteous, republican system.
There is no surer way of Destroying
Nt.q Ifnrf4D he efF .r
the Federal government" than by al
lowing the states to seoede from just
constitutional principles to fanaticai
mob rule in the name of a morbid
morality, in the name of Christ and
His Church. Every man at the front
ought to know, If he ever attended
church and Sunday school, that Christ
did not command anyone to go into
politics in his name or to use force
in any way to enforce morality. He
ought to know that the fanatics that
are seeking to destroy the liberty Of
man are audaciously assuming that
Christ wants such vile work done. A
republic is not theoracy nor mob
ocracy, but we are we'll on the way
for an adulterous mixtures OF both and
it is the sworn duty of the Federal
government 10 put a stop to such trea-
son against the constitution when the
governors OF the states. and represen-
tatives OF the people will not.
Transposine the language of Senator
Foraker, we say; No higher duty
rests upon the Federal government at
this time than that of setting its face
resolutely against all suggestions and
plans, in accordance with its sworn
duty. Do some people want alien pro-
hibition? Let them prohibit them