The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1911-08-03
Former Sk0WHE GAN
MINISTER
pey. F. A. Leitch Discusses the Nor
al. Social and Economic Aspects of
the Liquor Traffic.

Rev F. A. Leitch, formerly OF Skow
hogan. gives interesting idea on pro
hibitiqn:
We are in agreement regarding the
OWLS of intemperance and deplore the
economic waste of human life and
wealth which the trade entails. The
ain and degradation which the abuse
NJ alcoholic beverages infiict upon the
home in particular and society in
general are known and read of all
men We are confronted with the
nroblem of methods" What is the
host method of handling this modern
OWL this minotaur of destruction, this
octopus of perdition. Undoubtedly
IFS existence suggests, demand" and
its perpetuation supply" AS Father
Murphy once cogently remarked, 1.-THE
biggest rum hole is the little hole I'M
der a tippler's nose, close that and
the problem is solved Cut OFF de-
mand and the business dies as dies
vegetation without rain. The question
Of methods" in the science of gov
eminent in economics and even in
theology give scope for human capa-
cities as thought and reason to devise
and experiment. We are learning
that there are certain fundamental
and constitutional and inalienable
principles inwrought into the consu-
tuition of things and of osciety, in its
organic nature, and of man in his in
dvidual relationship to the race. We
are learning that governments and
legislators are not SO much creators
of law as interpreters of fundamental
facts of law as contained in the ma
ture of things, of mankind in parti-
cular and society in general. There
are certain eternal and immutable
laws contained in the constitution of
the moral universe that man cannot
alter nor tamper with any more than
he can alter or change the laws of
gravitation or the conservation of
energy or the transference of force as
heat ad electricity. Fundamental or
ganic law, immutable law, is the
foundation of all jurisprudence and
Of theology and morality. Funda-
mental, often referred to as natural
law, is always right, forever I'M
changeable, supreme in authority,
and imperative in its demand.
Legislators that are statesmen are
no more law makers than astronom-
ers and biologists and botanists are
Planet and rock and floral and faunal
makers. The work of scientists is to
discover and tabulate facts and laws
contained in the nature of things. Tn
less science knows things as they ara,
they will be known as they are not,
or out of their organic relationship.
With the truth of things comes the
fact of things, and with the fact the
law The purpose of law is to secure
stability Natural political, economic
and moral stability. Jurisprudence
as a science maintains that the pur-
pose of law is to fortify and maintain
public morality" to command what
is right and to prohibit what is
wrong, to safeguard and maintain the
four main pillars of the State, JUS
tee, morality, education and reli-
gion.'
Majorities or minorities cannot
make or unmake fundamental law.
Even statues and codes, legislators
and judiciaries cannot make or un-
make fundamental law. The Com
mandments did not begin with Moses.
They began when man began. Even
the Bible does not make truth true.
Truths are true whether in or out of
book. Blackstone says: That i'm
mutable law of right being coeyal
with mankind and dictated by God
himself is, of course, superior to any
other This law is binding all over
the world, in all countries and all
times Legislators, and judges, ma
tons and individuals have sought to
Overturn and disregard the immutable
and fundamental law or right, their
dust and debris strew the shores or
time. Insane asylums, hospitals, pen
itentiaries and graveyards testify OF
the folly and fanaticism of trying to
break fundamental law, physical and
mental and moral. Legislation has at
times sown to the wind and reaped
the whirl-wind by disregarding the
moral law. 1t Is one Of the funda-
mental principles of Constitutional
law among all civilized peoples to-
day that mo Legislature can bargain
away the public health or the public
Morals No Legislature can legalize
immortality. Edmund Burke says:
Not even by a unanimous popular
vote can that which Is morally wrong
be made legally right" DR.. Chapmo1
IN his Stainless Flag Address saws.
civil Government Is constantly in a
process of transformation into more
perfect accord with the requirements
OF immutable law and further that
NE integrity of the American people
and the rectitude of the American
government will cause this nation to