The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-13

there is no argument tn tais doctrine
for the liquor people,
Again the dreamed OF good gov
eminent has faneteG as ideal govern
ment. that righteous state Of the peo-
pie, that would require the minimum
prohibition and injunction. This is
both true and desirable. bl1f hardly
tenable in this life. only possible in
that realm, where God Will Is order.
certainly not in land cursed with
the rebellious saloon There is real
fundamental idea, which the personal
liberty loving folk have overlooked
This fundamental is not q novelty in
government. bat It had its Incl piency
with the conception OF the american
democracy, II is written in the
Declaration IF Independence the
constitution, ard the politics Of the
State and nation, ana 1t is found in
the delivery et The philosophers Of
government. This fundamental idea
is, the common good,
We have these word In the
declaration independence; that all
men are created equal that they are
endowed by their creator with certain
inaleinahle rights, that among these
ar life. liberty and the permit of hap
piness.' That 10 secure these rights
governments are Instituted among
men that when any form Of govern
ment becomes destructive Of these
ends it is the rfght OF the people to
alter, or abolish IT
The Peoples Happiness.
The same lesson is taught in the
preamble OF the constitution. We the
people Of the United States, in order
To form more perfect union. estab-
lish Justice. insure domestic tranquil
;.,- 4. Il
promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty 10 our
selves, and our postertty, DO orda!n
and establish this constitution for the
United States of America MaCauly
gave like advice, when he said: The
end of all government is the happiness
Of the people Likewise declared
Washington. The aggregate happi-
ness of society, which is best pro-
NOTED by the practice Of N'rtuous
policy is. or anght TO be, the end Of all
government, From these references
il Is clear that the overshadowing
from the beginning was to secure the
common good Of our people The
whole trend of our active govern
ment through the subsequent years
has been To foster and to maintain
what the fathers OF the republic set
out to do. Of which, the Statewide
movement in Virginia Is hut an in
stance.
From this study we would advise
the personal liberty crowd that per-
sonal liberty ends where the common
welfare begins.
Notwithstanding this common
good doctrine, there are thousands
and even millions all over our State
1l,t- ,1f
their right TO life. liberty. property.
health and happiness by the incorrigi-
BILE liquor traffic. The hot tears of
broken hearted mothers over their
boys ruined by rum; the feeble cry
of annotated children for bread and
clothes. caused by fathers squander-
ing their money at the bar, the
trades of abuse and thrusts of cruelty
inflicted upon innocent women and
children by drunken fathers and sons.
which sent them covering to the
corner. or disfigured and manned to
the grave; the life blood of faithful
and devoted wives and angelic tots
in the sacred precincts of the home.
and that of the peaceful and law
abiding ciuizens on the courthouse
green and in the streets crying out
against their liquor crazed murdarers
all bear testimony to this fact. How
dare any intelligent and moral man
to plead his personal rights, or quote
the fathers of liberty and freedom.
to boost business so subversive of
the common good as the license sa-
loon. All who would do so ought to
beg the pardon. of true manhood:
tear up the declaration of independ-
ence; burn the constitution and erase
Patrick Henry's speech. Give me
liberty or give me DEATH" from the
sacred archives of the nation.
However the triumph of the com
mon welfare is assured, and the mutt
lators OF liberty cannot prevent II. We
see this in The conservation of
forest mineral lands 'water-power