The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-09-20
On the Proposed Amendment.

On the Proposed Amendment. | To the Editor of The Herald. | I notice that the self-styled temper
 ance forces have reso1uted that 1t is simply question of saloon or no sa- loon" This product of their minds is worthy of them
 | I claim to be no fanatic, but a con- servative in this matter of the proposed amendment to the constitution. I think this tampering and playing with i the constitution, when 1t Is wholly and absolutely useless and unnecessary, is a matter that is patently pregant with dangerous precedent which Is now casting its shadow before.
 The innocent blood that Is going to be split in the future, on account of bigotry and riotous, rampant, ribald fanaticism Is history merely repeating itself. Not so long ago. right here in our midst. an innocent little girl was killed by the officers of the law, while invading the sanctity of the home without a warrant for the pur- pose. And we hear from Mobile that the young ladies in the sacredness of their private dwelling were compelled to reveal the contents of their trunk, their sacred raiment, under the pro- tection of laws. more drastic than any country can blush for. Is not this enough? Why put the amendment in the constitution?
 Men who really want prohibition are tired of the cheap politician, be he preacher, craving a little cheap, crass notoriety, where natural eminence and ability have been impossible, or be he mountebank layman who is not sin cere and whose species can always be seen on the crest of a fanatical or supposed popular wave. A wiseheimer of this sort can jump from his iceberg with great alacrity if he perceives his ice foe is melting. He never gets into a lead" Some of them have already made their getaway to land.
 Why is the election coming now in- stead of 1910? Is 1t because they are afraid that some of the 125,G00 voters who were disfranchised by another of their beautiful constitutional enact ments might pay up some of their five year back taxes and then vote against this proposed amendment?
 The people have been wanting to re- peal this un-American law ever since it was enacted, but they will never get the opportunity of doing so, be- cause 1t is in the contitution.
 England who brags that she is the best and least governed country in the world, also brags that she has an "un- written constitution" that is, no con- stitution. Nothing to hamper her if she wishes to repeal law.
 A good general always figures on retreat as well as an advance. The mistake that Bonaparte made was not doing the latter at Waterloo. There is no use locking the h orse in the sta ble and throwing the key away, nor of burning the bridges In the line of probable or possible retreat
 The campaign for system of "blue laws" in Alabama is nothing new. It is history repeating itself This hide bound principle emanates from the same spirit that stif1ed mans voice in our mother country, and would not | allow him to testify in his own behalf | when accused of crime, nor would | the law allow him counsel, if he were | unfortunate enough to be accused | however innocent he might be. The ! brave barons of England who wrested | the magma charta from King John and made him sign his mark, would turn | over in their graves if they could re- | alize that this generation Is beginning | to undo what 1t took them centuries l to accomplish by blood and revolution. 1 It is the same spirit that caused the | burning of the so-ca1led witches at l the stake upon our own American | shores The heroes who caused this | sort of enactments were also the same persons who failed to respond to the | call of '76. Curfew laws, laws denying the right of trial by jury, star cham | Der proceedings, inquisitions and per- l secutions have obtained before. Their | enactment and enforcement usually | marked the beginning of the end. In ternecine war was the usual result. When a spirit of the fanatfcal anarchy thus runs amuck through country 1t l takes but little to fan the flame or re- | sentiment and passion.
 what benefit is that part of our con-
 what beenfit is that part of our con- 1 stitution which says, "that all people l shall be secure in their persons. houses, papers and possessions from unreasonable eizure or searches, etc., | that he shall not be compelled to give
 evidence against himself,' that no per
 son shall for any fndictable offense 5e
 proceeded against criminally by 1nfor-
 nation" etc.; that the rlght or triai
 by fury shall remain inviolate,' that
 excessive fines shall not be imposed or
 cruel or unusual punishment inflicted
 that all persons shall, before con
 yiction. be bailable by sufficient sur ities. except for capital onenses, and
 "tbat excessive bail shall not in any
 case be required7"
 And section 36 of our Dill or rlghts,
 corresponding with the English magma
 charta, says: "That the sole object and
 only legitimate end of government IS
 to nrotect the citizen in the enjoy
 ment of life, liberty and prosperity
 and when the government assumes oth-
 CT functions 1t is usurpation and op-
 pression. w. T. MAo hi.oON'
 Birmingham. September IS. 1909.
 Let Fight Be Honest.
 To the Editor of The Age-Herald: