Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1910-05-10
TENNESSEES GOVERNOR
ON PROHIBITIONS FAULTS
(By Governor R. M. Patterson

TO the Honorable Members OF
the Senate and House of Representa-
tives. As Governor | transmit the
message for Its considera-
ton of the liquor question:: PROFIT
bition is fundamentally ard pro-
foundry wrong as governmental
policy, and in a country where the
largest measure of freedom of ac'
ton is accorded tie individual "
becomes intolerable; and for State,
through its law-makins power, to
attempt 10 control what the people
shall eat, drink aud wear, exc ipt TO
see that they are protected from i'm
position, is tyranny, and not liberty.
No State has yet attcmpte to for
bi1 what man should cat, pure
food laws are necessary to zee what
he eats is not adulterated Or mis-
branded, and that he obtains what
he wants without substitution OIL de-
ceit By the dishonest man or teller.
No State has yet attempted by law
to prescribe the manner of dress for
the people. but 1t would be con pc
tent for the State to provide by law
that the goods should be prope Fly
marked, SO as to prevent imposition.
No state has attempted to force the
people not to use certain XII ads OF
medicines or to use certain Others,
but IL can and ought to have all
medicines properly labeled SO as to
prevent fraud.
"All such meddlesome and vexa-
tious laws ceased In England with
the growth of constitutional govern.
ment and when the rights of man
were firmly established upon the ba-
sis of individual liberty and con-
science. They passed In our coun-
try when intolerance and early ia
naticism gave way to advancing re-
ligious freedom. and the constitution
OF our own country was framed Tor
self governing people who reserved
to themselves and guaranteed with
one another the rights and privileges
of frecmen. Bat the attempt has
been made by prohibitory laws re-
lating to drink to forbid tie manu-
facture or sale of liquor. The claim
Is made that tie use Of liquor pro-
duces drunkenness, vice and crime,
and that public morals, the welfare
of the individual and Of tie State
would be bet conserved by It's total
abolition.
1T is also said that bee iuse OF
the appalling consequences which
often follow the incorporate use OF
liquor that legislation on this sub
ject Is to be differentiated from leg
islation on the other subjects. and Is
not only justifiable, but desirable
and necessary.
while having great respect 'ol
this opinion, shared by SO many oil
our people. | am still convinced that
any attempt at legislation to abolish
the manufacture OF liquor Is ator'
tive. In that II does not accomplish
the result hoped for, and, again, tha'
It violates the plainest and most OBJ
vious rule OF individual action a1t
personal freedom.
III we can legislate against thu
manufacture and sale of liquor be
cause " often produces crime an;
frequently becomes hurtiul to tn
individual and society, cin we nc
also legislate against the manrlfac
ture and sale of tobacco o. poisonous
drugs? And II we begin such -egis
| lation, where Is II to end?
shall we prohibit the man ifac
J ture and sale OF liquor to all thu
people because some. by reason Of In
! temperate use, ruin Themselves?
shall We so legislate that a maj
who uses 1t moderately and wi .hou
injury to himself or others shill b,
wholly deprived OF Its use, btcaus,
another uses 1t immoderately?
shall the sick not use IL II thu
physician prescribes It, bccaus
some who are well abuse It?
Shall Its manufacture and sal
be wholly forbidden by law. withou
regard to Its proper use or abuse?
ITO do so is wholly unwise ant
destructive.
/ The use or non-use of liquo
should be left to the individual.
IN my conception, In popular gov
eminent and the relation of tn
individual to society. II Is just a
much an invasion of personal lib
erty to attempt by law to forbi'
It's use as II is by law to forbid tn
use of anything else.
Character In the individual is no
made by prohibition or the with
drawing of temptation. but by re
sistance to temptation. The schem
of God in the redemption of ma
has not been to take from him temp
tation. but to leave him free to re
slst, and as he resists. he VIII hay
his reward.
/ shall we destroy property t
make men honest?
i'Shall we abolish the manufat
ture of gunpowder because me