The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-10-20

y
society, and to undertake to change con-
stitutfon under such conditions as exist
in Alabama at this time is nothing snort
of recklessness.
The recent prohibition laws put upon
the statute books of Alabama are sump-
tuary in their nature, and because OIL
the fact that the constitution limits
the extent to which these ancient tyran-
nical laws can be carried. we are now
asked to change the constitution, so as to
make 1t possible for sumptuary laws to
be passed by a democratic Legislature in
a republican form of government that
would be equal to some of the tyrannical
! sumptuary laws of ancient Rome.
Let us see: Among the tyrannical
sumptuary laws of ancient times We find
the following:
ssPhe Fannian law 161 b. c. limited the
sums to be spent on entertainments; 1t
provided among other things that no fowl
should be served but single hen, and
that not fattened."
I'm the Locrian code of Zaleucus citi-
zens were forbidden to drink undiluted
wine"
1.-The Solonian sumptuary enactments
were directed principally against the ex-
travagance of female apparel, costly BAN
quets and expensive funeral solemnities.'
1.-The Orphan law 215 B. C. provided that
no woman should wear dress of different
colors, or ride in a carriage in the city,
or within a mile of it except on occasions
of public religious ceremonies THE
Didian law 143 B. c. directed legislation
against the luxury of the table, and made
the guests as well as the givers of enter
tainments at which the laws were vio-
lated liable to the penalties, and also linn
tied the cost of funerals"
These are some OF the ancient tyrannical
laws against which the great political
writer's and the world have been battling
for ages Compare them with the Car
michael and Fuller bills of Alabama and
note their similarity, and now we are
asked to change our constitution that the
Alabama legislators in their wild career
OF law-making may go still further God
forbid
One of the most unfortunate and in
alienable traits of human nature is that
those in authority are always trying to
force their ideas and conclusions upon
their fellowmen, and it matters not
whether the number in authority are
limited. or consist of the majority, for
than the tyranny of the monarch. His
tory teaches us, I regret to say, that 1t
is from the church and it's over-zealous
workers in its cause, more than from
any other source, that this unfortunate
interference most generally emanates.
and many of the most disastrous wars of
the world, is well known, were due
directly to the perncious interference OF
the church and its coworkers with the
affairs of their fellow creatures hence
the necessity of a strong constitution, |
q sound judiciary and that the affairs of |
the church and state should be so care
fully alienated. Remember, THE fire. |
water of the Christian destroys the spe-
cies more effectually than the scimitar of |
the Osmanli'
Don't understand me to be casting slurs |
at the church, for such is not the case. |
I fully realize in it, one of Gods greatest
creations. and 1t is in the anxiety to |
do good that the noble workers in It's
cause go so far until harm and oftimes
irreparable harm is the result
What does 1t take to constitute liberty |
or a portion only, of the liberty that has
engaged the minds of the great writer's |
for ages, and for which our forefathers
shed their precious blood? Let us see:
John Stuart Mil, one of the worlds
most able political economists, says: 1.-THE |
principle requires liberty of tastes and !
pursuits; of framing the plan of our life |
to suit our own character; of doing as
we like, subject to such consequences
as may follow, without impedment from
our fellow creatures so long as what
we do does not harm them, even though
they should think our conduct foolish
perverse, or wrong. No society in which
these liberties are no. on the whole re-
spected is Free whatever may be its
form of government; and none is COM
pletely free In which they do not exist
absolute and unqualified. The only free
dom which deserves the name is that of
pursuing our own good in our own way
so long as we do not attempt to deprive
others of theirs, or impede their efforts
to obtain it,
Each is the proper guardian of his
own health, whether bodily or mental
and spiritual. Mankind are greater gain
ers by suffering each other to live as
seems good to themselves than by COM
peling each to live as seems good to the
rest.
THE disposition of mankind whether
as rulers or as fellow citizens, to impose
their own opinions and inclinations as a
rule of conduct on others, is SO ener
getically supported by some of the best
and some of the worst feelings incident
to human nature, that it is hardly eveAl
kept under restraint by anything but
want of power; and as the power is not
declining, but growing, unless strong
barrier of moral conviction can be raised
against the mischief, we must expect, in
the present circumstances of the world
to see it increase" These last words of
the noted writer show, as I say the
necessity of strong constitution and
sound judiciary.
The eminent writer, Henry Thomas
Buckle says Liberty is the one thing
most essential to the right development
of individuals and to the real grandeur of
nations 1t is a product of knowledge
when knowledge advances in healthy
and regular manner: but If under GER
tain unhappy circumstances it is op-
posed by what seems to be knowledge,
then, In Gods name, let knowledge per-
sh and liberty be preserved Liberty is
not means to end, it is an end it.
self. To secure it, to enlarge it, to diff
fuse it, should be the main object of all
social arrangements and of all political
contrivances. None but a pedant or a
tyrant can put science or literature in
competition with it,
Another eminent writer, Oliver Gold
smith, says: Every popular government
seems calculated to last only for a short
time; it grows rigid with age; new laws
are multiplying, and the old continue in
force; the subjects are oppressed and
burdened with multiplicity of legal in
functions: there are none from whom to
expect redress, and nothing but strong
CONFUSION in the state can vindicate them
into former liberty"
Note the last two lines of the above
paragraph This is just what is happen
ing in Alabama today.
Jeff sT.aaq OF poV hast