The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1911-08-23
THE TRUE SPIRIT
OF DEMOCRACY
AS Exemplified in Its In
herent Teachings.
DIFFERENCE IN PARTY SPIRIT
Which Separates the Leading
Forces and Gives Distlnc.
ton to Each.
WHAT EACH SIDE STANDS FOR

EVERY MAN HIS OWN TEN
PERANCE SOCIETY"
This is the spirit of Democracy
that develops character, individual
ism, manhood, as nothing else can.
In it's generally accepted, broad
and comprehensive meaning, the
spirit of Prohibition is inherently
antagonistic to that of Democracy;
hence, although it may seem a lit
tie harsh, Watterson is right when
he declares that mo Prohibitionist
can be a Democrat. But in truth
and Justice, Prohibition does not
mean to a Democrat all it means to
a Republican. There's a difference
in both spirit and design that the
word does not determine. To a
Democrat il is confined strictly to
the liquor curse which he regards
as an exceptional evil, so out of
the ordinary and so grave in its
character that extraordinary treat
ment is demanded, and, because 1t
comes nearest to Local Self Gov
ernment-that ideal state, every
man his own morality society-a
Democrat naturally turns not only
Loyalty to the constitutional provis-
ion but to the smallest subdivision
which he calls Local OPTION, to dis
tinguish it from Prohibition, which
is an ism" that sprung from New
England, the hot-bed of all ''isms."
To a Republican it means the whole
theory of a paternalized and cen
tralized government. The former,
trusting to the good sense, sound
judgment and moral stamina of the
individual to maintain moral stand
ards, while the latter relies upon
the strong arm of the law, the
temptation and fears of rewards
and penalties, to accomplish all
good, believing that the individual
is but clay in the hands of the leg
islative potter who can make of
him just any kind of a pot he wants
to; all of which, at once, leads to
the doctrine that the good should
rule and they are the good; the
earth belongs to the saints and they
are the saints.
Emerson, who, 1t is believed by
some, has said all that is worth say
ing or will be worth saying for two
hundred years, declared that RE
publics abound in young civilians
who believe laws make cities, that
commerce, education, religion and
morals can be voted in and out"
No Democrat could possibly sub
scribe to such doctrine any more
than he could believe sumptuary
laws can reform sinner; for he
knows all reforms must begin
within the human heart, a vital
spot that nothing but moral sua-
sion and its own leaven can ever
reach.
The utmost power of the State
is to restrain; it can neither con-
vert nor reform. We have dele
gated to it the authority to concern
itself about whatever we may do
that invades the rights of another,
but any attempt to NEEDLE with
what we believe or do within our
own right, would be an encroach-
ment so intolerable that it would
justify revolution.
So we see the difference is so
great, far-reaching and fundament-
al that no Democrat should be con-
fused or misled by the sophistry of
mere office-seekers whose success
depends upon injecting moral
question, which has no place in
politics, into the campaign, thus
not only diverting the public mind
from their public record which con-
Germs every taxpayer N the State,
but so excites the jealous temper
ance advocate that he loses sight
of his party principles and goes on
chasing a delusion, leaving his
State to suffer the consequences.
Why try to make an issue of
Temperance? Isn't everybody for
it? Or, II they are not. are the Re-
publicans more competent to deal
with the problem than the Demo-
ocrats? Have they proved this?
What have they ever done in Ken
lucky for the cause of Temperance
or any other cause? Did they
prove their willingness and ability
in that fragrant betrayal of an ov-
erwhelming temperance sentiment
when they made that notorious deal
with a whiskey ring, bartering the
County Unit Bill, sacrificing the
cause OF Temperance with all its
hopes. to elect a U. s. Senator?
What good came of the sacrifice OF
the Democrat who abandoned his
party with all its policies that SO