Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-01-28
An Old OBJECTION.

"I am opposed TO prohibition just as
| / am opposed To any other blue law"
| intended TO CuItall or take away all
/ together the natural rights Of the i'm
| dividual IL is not the function OF gov
| eminent 20 determine what a mans
taste shall be- or how his appetite shall
be satisfied"
Above was the statement OF Repre-
sentative r. l.. Holman OF tho Judiciary
/ committee. from Bingham Canyon, re-
Gently when asked for an expression Of
opinion by News reporter. II is the
old, threadbare, well worn objection
perennially urged by the advocates OF
the liquor traffic, wherever and when
ever the subject Of local option or pro-
hioltion Is raised. The rights OF the
individual" personal liberty" are pa
raded as one great reason why the III
quor traffic should not be cut of. True.
the individual has rights. and there Is
personal liberty guaranteed by the con-
stitution and by our form of govern
ment, which both law and government
are bound 20 respect. but the liberty
tho right claimed so vociferously by
the dlstillng and brewing interests. are
no liberty or right in the proper sense
OF the term. at an In fact the dehni-
ton of liberty and the individual right.
as given by the liquor men may APPLY
come within the curt saying OF Lord
John Russell Many definitions have
been given OF liberty. Most OF these
deserve no notice" Tho true definition
is m conformity with what an those
who cherish liberty must feel that
whatever It's details may De- il means "a
high degree of untrammeled political
action In the citizen, and acknowledge
ment OF mis- dignity and his important
rights by the government. But this
high and appropriate ideal cannot bee
carried ont where tho citizen deliber-
ately destroys bis usefulness as a
citizen. Where. by being addicted TO
Intoxicating drink. he nullihes his in-
huaneo for the good OF society whore
he gives himself up to "a passion that
wrecks hi- domestic life, makes un-
HAPPY often unbearable the lives OF
thosp dependent upon him, stupedes his
moral sense. atrophies his productive
powers. fosters his haser nature and
gradually brings himself TO a. depcu-
deuey aud "a Charge ou the community.
be- a perfectly proper that hc should
have hls so-called liberty curbtd. if not
entirely taken away from him.
ESQ man uyeth unto himself is
so-ptuu truth that uo human misoar-
raer off logic can deny We are am
socu creatures. $50 are 1ll our BROTH
ers koaprw Tho wen mo best bale
ancei mind exists whore u is m the
most sympathetic touch with tho exc
perences of human ufa BOO us most
moral phases. and che man Who norks
au by himself draws away from tho
society of bis follow men into tHe loue-
Illness of solitude. soon become. mou-
tally UNITE to form correct Judgment in
tho walk and conversation of pycry-
day ufe. A. ESQ mau HFeth unto hIm-
self so no uau cam claim as 20 pore
aoual rsul as matter ot liberty that
he bo permitted tl act according to the
dictates of hH nucIos irrespective of
toe effects off ha actions upon his
ueIghbor TUe Individual Is an lutcg-
ral part of inc social structure Every
action of the individual Affects the
community boo which ho lives. tho de-
srae of tle Influence depending upon
the character 0f hiF action. Indulgence
in liquor lowers the character of that
action units tho Individual for ms
proper place DOB society, and sooner or
later makes him "a public burden. ls it
true liberty the reasonable ught OF