The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-07-25

"Jtlthe constitutional amendment had
heen submitted to the people should
have voted against les adoption. ana
should have hoped 1hat enough others
would do the same to defeat II. after
It had been fully and fairly discussed
on its merits. without the vituperation
elimination and recrimination which
will characterize this campaign before
II has ended.
Prohibition LAWS Fair.
aIf the action of the Legislature was
Influenced by the liquor dealers, II
was another evidence OF the truth of
the old adage. whom the gods would
destroy they arst make mad But
whether so or not. their mischievous
interference with politics has raised a
whirlwind Of popular indignation which
will possibly sweep this State along
with most Of the other Southern States
into the prohibition column to remain
there TIL right reason reasserts itself
and the evils growing out of prohfbi-
ton. In some Of Its phases worse than
the open saloons. have rendered the
people wise enough to enact law
just and fair to all classes OF citizens.
reasonable in. the eyes OF reasonable
people, and so capable OF being enforce
ed because backed up by q healthy
public sentiment, without which no
laws are worth the paper they are
written on.
"All prohibition laws so far, from
Maine to Kansas, have failed of execu-
ton and will continue to fail for the
lack OF this backing; because nothing
more conduces to lack Of respect for
law in general than the enactment OF
such laws as needlessly and oficious-
ly NEEDLE with the personal right OF the
individual citizen to order his private
affairs. without any interference On
the part OF the public, especially
through sumptuary legislation as to
what he shall eat and what he shall
drink. Paternalism in the past has
future will continue to be, detrimental
to the highest development of individ-
ual character.
May Act ~ Boomerang.
MY first objection to state probibi-
ton is that 1t proposes to interfere un-
reasonably with the rights of the IN
dfvidual. Because by clamor and pub
lie excitement and appeals to prejudice
and passion. a majority of the unthink-
ing masses has been led to espouse
cause that certain leaders approve of.
1t Is proposed to compel minority OF
very respectable proportions. not all
nor even most of them bad citizens,
to regulate, their social and domestic
customs according to the dictation of
this majority. which may. indeed. be
very small; but the size of II Is indif-
ferent; II 10 the principle of such In
reference that Is Objectionable.
I'VE are beginning to see the result
of this tyrannical proposition already.
It has not only alienated a very large
number of the very best men in every
community where brains and not Drawn
are In the ascendency, from these self
constitu ted leaders who had this move
ment; but because they are Christian
men; and many OF them ministers of
the Gospel their methods of procedure
are alternating these same 1evel-headed.
conservative citizen from the Chris
ton religion as we'll, as many of them
ferent innumerable phases of Christi
anity. but Will lump them all together
and condemn them all alike.
"The evils resulting from the course
now being pursued to enlist. the
churches, as such, in the present cru
SADIE may, In the near future, act like
boomerang. and in the end do untold
injury to the cause of Christianity.
Would Strengthen Socialism.
"If men now, In the name of religion
because they have secured a majority
in the State. rudely and unreasonably
trample on the private rights of indi-
viduals In attempting to regulate their
social customs, because they are con-
trary to their religious convictions, 1T
may have the effect of arraying large
number of these men against all re-
| ligion, so that II in the future they
should obtain the upper hand, they
would be strongly tempted to revenge
| them when they had the power to do
SO. t'E 80
such a condition may not be the
dav dream of a mere visionary. The
socfa nstien movement now rampant in
] Francs andoheId in check In Germany
| only by the mailed hand OF military
power and yearly growing in numbers
and influence IN this country, is AL
most unanimously opposed to religion,