The Palatka news. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1907-09-13
THE RIGHT OF
PROHIBITION.
BY DIR. HERRIeK JOHNSON.

cleared DF TINS consideration OF the
ground and object of prohibition
that we need not dwell long on the
right
The legal right is unmistakable
and not open to intelligent challenge.
So court after court, in state after
state, year after year, again and
again, has decided. The judicial
opinions are known and read all of
men. They are overwhelmingly one
way, and the most of these decisions
are not under constitutional provis-
ions enforcing prohibition, but under
constitutions with no prohibitOry
clause, and based simply on legisla-
tive enactment, where the considera-
ton of personal liberty and personal
rights would be compelled. So
much for the legal right.
But, granting its legality, is it
morally right? There are things we
know to be legal, but good men in
stiuctiyely shrink from pressing
them. Is prohibition exactly the
thing as between man and man,
Notwithstanding its legality? Be
yond a shadow of a doubt it is. The
moral right is just as Unmistakable
as the legal right. and not one whit
more open to intelligent challenge.
Let US bear in mind the ground of
prohibition. viz, the evils to society
OF the thing prohibited, and the OBJ
jet OF prohibition, viz, the eXtirpa-
ton of the saloon, and we cannot
hesitate as to the moral proprieties
OF this matter.
Look at the character Of the evils
from which society is made to suffer
by this business. They affect public
order, public health, public decency;
they increase taxes, imperil proper
ty, endanger life; they are by con-
fession the prolific source of crime.
poverty, orphanage, disease, death;
they are open, public, notorious,
civic and social; not private, indi-
vidual. limited aud we'll within the
realm where personal liberty and in
dlvidual rights may assert their
claim. II society has the right to
protect itself from any evils it has
from these. If the public welfare
will justify the prohibition of any
thing seriously threatening it, it will
justify the prohibition of the manu-
tacture and sale OF alcoholic liquor
for beverage purposes. The nO.sin-
par-se cry is deIusion and a sham.
1t has no place in this discussion,
for it is not the ground of prohibi-
ton.
If an individual is thus incidental
" deprived of what he regards as an
Innocent indulgence. it is for the all
sufficient reason that the larger gem
eral good is paramount to the indi-
yidual good. Society is a system of
COMPROMISES. Individual rights
must Weld TO the public welfare.
The surrender is INDISPENSABLE to the
good government. due regulation and
Well-betng of society.
Ought prohibition to have place
in politics? 1t is not so much an
ouphtness. IT is an ineyitableness,
Oupht prohibition 70 he made a no.
litical Question? Will the skeptic on
this point tell Ms how il can be made
anvthiup elsa2 What is notifies?
The science of government: the
regulation of a state: the Dreserya-
ton of its safety. peaca and nros-
nerity. and tha nTotaction Of its citi-
zens in their rights. Now think
what the saloon Is. what values if
impairs. what taxes if imDoses. and
for what reasons what crimes il en-
geuders, what material and social
interests it blirhts how il touches
society AT almost every noint where
Legislation has a nroyinre. how if on.
tiers by the very necessity of its exis-
tence into 0uestions Hf nronerfv.
questions of taxation. questions of