The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-07-04
Another Spacious Argument.

In this and dry campaign hear much
If that ancient and honorable argument that
there is no why / should give up my
drink Just because some other poor devil cannot
drink with moderation The contention Is that
the State has right to restrict my personal
liberty simply because some one else is booze
fighter" That sounds somewhat plausible and
If we do not believe in the doctrine of Paul
that III meat my brother 10 offend, will
eat no meat we are inclined TO endorse it,
AS a matter of fact. however, every day in
the year, In every city and in every county we
surrender personal liberties for the sake Of the
common veal and all agreed that it is
the thing to do. Go down to our national cap
tta1, for instance. There is traffic regula ton
which says that no automobile shall pass within
fifteen feet OF a street in the act or re-
ceving discharging passengers and that
every automobile must come TO full stop until
such passengers have reached place of safety.
Why that rule promulgated? 1t not
because OF The ninety per cent OF the automo-
btIists who always careful and respectful of
the right Of the pedestrian No sir. it for
that per cent who have consideration
for themselves or for anybody else. The ninety
per cent have TO suffer undue restriction because
of the ten per cent II may he hardship upon
them, it may be sonleH hat unjust TO them, hut
they recognize the rights Of the pedestrian and
yield cheerful obedience to a regulation that
curtails their personal liberty. Likewise, when
people recognize the rights of the wife and
children Of the drunkard they will also be will
fng to have their personal liberty curtailed III
that splendid behalf.
Come closer home We know that a speed
law of twelve miles hour is irksome every
uotoris, who drives our country's roads Yet
who was II made for? Not for that ninety per
cent Of the autonobilists who recognize the
rights Of others. but rather for that ten per
cent who are speed maniacs with no Of
responsibility when they drive their cars. The
ninety per cent Of the motorists of Virginia
must surrender their right to drive their cars
as they please in order to protect the public
from that other ten per cent. VINO outrage
fairness and Justice in the way they handle
their cars. And who challenges the right or
the Justice of II
And 80 II is everywhere. Because some men
carried betting on horse races to
case OF surrendering personal liberties for
the welfare Of some one else Because some one
is pot hunter must all give up shooting
partridges except for single month In the
year
Why. IN the very case Of liquor itself
because grossly abused the
privileges Of selling II the business limited
to only few and everybody else denied
the personal liberty Of selling II.
Personal liberty. indeed Civilization itself Is
based upon a surrender Of personal liberty for
the common veal. Primitive man had as much
personal liberty to slay his fellowmen
dog has 70 slay another in mortal combat
Primitive man had much right to steal
from his neighbor as one rooster has TO drive
another away from the worm he has found.
Primitive man had dozens of personal liberty
rights that we do not enjoy today but the
progress of civilization has been measured by
the number of these rights he has been willing
to surrender for the common veal
The hardest Of all these personal liberty
rights 20 get rid If is the liquor drinking and
selling right When you combine the liquor
thirst Of the drunkard that causes him 10
lie and to steal for drink, with the money thirst
Ct the salconkeeper who will grow rich even II
he has to do so by wrecking lives. destroying
homes, and LAYING the foundations for crime,
YOU have q combination that is hard to beat
And thai Is the ONLY reason why tho saloon
did not the way u the gambling hell. the
race track gambler the lottery and dozen
News Record.