The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1907-09-20


1T strong.
What We are free 10 do We slight.
What is forbidden whets the appe-
tite."
Any form OF prohibition OF res1ric-
ton beats most heavily upon the
poorer classes. the rich being always
able 10 secure whatever position they
wish No one can question the sin
cerity OF Mr.. Gladstone as to temper
ance; in 1864 be wrote: How can |.
who drink good wine and bitter beer
all my life. in a comfortable room and
among friends, coolly stand up and
advise hard-working fellow creatures
TO take the pledge?" Here is a good
rule. not 10 put into the law pr0hibi-
tons We do not ourselves respect.
The state has, it is said by some. as
TO its end, the realization OF the best
. life Of the individual But what is the
/ best life? We cannot define il; W.
cannot formulate IL in any word or
phrase 1t Is differently conceived
and appears in new forms, and chang
es as humanity advances. To guard
citizen against aggression in his life.
liberty. and property is a tOlerably
simple matter; TO regulate. directly
or indirectly. his personal habits. is
an infinitely complicated matter
Legislation should be founded. not
on the fears and follies and prejudic-
- Of men but on reason. on the sens,
Of right and be so free as to restrain
the people in no moral right. and yet
so firm as 10 protect them from every
moral wrong All history attests the
4 fact that law never reforms mems
habits. One OF the greatest delusions
OF this age. as OF all past ages, is the
fallaciOuS idea that the passage of all
arbitrary, coerciye laws Will reform
individuals and remove the evils and
abuses affecting every department of
life. Ever since society existed dis
appointment has been preaching put
not your trust in legislation. and yet
that trust seems scarcely diminished:
and every day TeappearS the belief
that government omnipotenCe will IF.
feet any end desired.
Herbert Spencer held legislation
ito be one Of the weakest instruments
for the deeper class Of moral re-
forms" In its preventive policy the
government says Burke. ought 70 be
sparing OF lis efforts and 10 employ
means rather few. for in this kind of
offiCioUS universal Interference what
begins in Odi0uS power, ends always
in contemplate imbeCility," Mill
holds that the state can never rightly
interfere with that part Of a persons
conduct which merely concerns him
self. The proper place where tenn
perance ought 70 be taught and prac-
tically exercised is az home. not only
hy words. buc by good examples. Ed
UCarion and moral Suasion Will accom-
plish what laws and legislation never
will
Opposition u sUmpJuary laws has
long BEEN a tenet OF he democratic
party Ii i a democratic axiom that
tt-a best governed people ara those
h least governed; thai the science Of
legislation is the science of tuochinS
As lightly as possible the freedom Of
-,
and personal action. The mania for
regulating everything does not spring
from d democratic root, 1t Is char
acteriStically mOnarChial 10 oversee
|, all, 10 intermediate with all. like an
- Argus. with An hundred eyes. and a
D. BriareuS. with an hundred hands. The
royal conception OF government is
that of a felt presence in the daily life
of every citizen. directing his manner
OF life. telling What he shall ear and
drink and wear; this monarchial idea
J. has been defined by writer's on GOV
P ernmcut from Aristotle down. l. pos
, rulates Al government agent standing
ar The side of every citizen ID sea To
. i thar he behaves. Il IS he direct
, opposite ~ -ha republican dream and
- ideal
Jefferson a-E NOT consider govern
, msur KS helms e.. 5t~--t tle source of
- ali ..st a@. presumably Hr@sscsu-
F. wherever ir- power WAS t..-. l-- a-
beneficial y.'l ST.. ia. lis r. t.a~ rrcc--