The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1908-07-02

oC III tuo iuditl ucHcliCtdl 10 CH0 greatest
number of the people. The next vital
point to be reckoned with would be,
can this be accomplished by our usual
methods, and would it in
any way infringe upon the rights of
The issue of the move
ment must ultimately depend upon
the answer to these questions.
Governments and their laws are
analogous to families and their regula-
tions. Individual members of we'll
ordered households acknowledge cer-
tain rules and requirements laid down
for their guidance and conform thereto,
and in SO doing great degree of har-
mony, peace and personal freedom is
vOuchsafed to all than could otherwise
obtain under regime where every one
was law unto himself Likewise a
government to be of benefit to its people
must make wise and judicious laws
and provide means for their fulfillment.
When this is done effective and per-
manent progress in efficient and stable
government will have been established
and legal obedience will be deemed
pleasure rather than an .intolerable
submission to harsh and unjust disci-
pline. lf1hen we concede to the fa-
mily choice of its own methods of
administration we must, if logical, not
deny these same rights to the people
as whole.
When the voters of this country Sc
riously ask themselves if some restric-
tion ought not to be placed on the
manufacture and sale of Intoxicating
iiqaafs they viii reflect, medttate ana
reason until they arrive at some def
mite conclusion, then will they openly
and freely give expression to their CON-
victions and the matter will be dis
posed of in an intelligent and business
like manner. TO presume otherwise
would he to cast reflection upon our
neighbors' good Judgment and integ-
rity of purpose. This is free country
aud a free age. Those who are as en-
lightened as we are must be as free AS
we are, even if their ideas sometime
run counter to ours. No theory or
conviction. was ever yet eradicated
from peoples minds by opposition or
oppression.
If intemptrance is vice one-half
so black and hideOus as it is ~univer-
sally painted would it not be the part
of wisdom to suppress it tho by so do
ing few voluptuaries were slightly
irritated therebyY TO do so would be
doing personal liberty no violence.
There is all internal revenue of one
dollar and ten cents levied upon each
gallon of whisky manufactured, and
who but few m0untaineer moon
sinners believe that they are being de.
prived of their constitutional rights
If it is right and lawful to prohibit
indiscriminxte sales of poison, to for.
bid the sale OF firearms las one of ouI
sister states has done) because such
articles are u menace to the peace
aud safety of the public, it. is certainly
just as proper to include any other OF
all other commodities that are deemed
dangerous to public veal. Individu.
ally we cannot make laws nor establish
rights. These things are and should
be done by the majority. He who has
the greatest freedom exercises the
most restraint.
| Supposing drastic prohibition law
to he passed, would it prohibit? Laws
are easily enough made, but alas! they
are just as easily broken. Not unit
this question is thought out fairly and
the public mind thoroughly made ul
will.it ever be settled. This may hap
pen in u few years and again it May bs
centuries. However here is good fOoe
for thought and we may become inter
ested, ifnot profted by thinking ove
a solution. 1t is good healthy sigI
to see people carefully studying th'
pros aud cons of questions of vita
interest. The strongest advocate 0
} personal rights might be astonished a
| the limitation placed upon these sal,
rights if he should suddenly right abou
and take squirt from another view
, point. PAUL.