The Grangeville globe. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho) 1907-1922, 1915-08-05

In a forceful plea for the preserva-
tion of the liberty of the individual
where that liberty does not conflict
with the liberty and privileges of So
ciety. Attorney Coffin says:
1.-The highest conception of the re-
publican state repudiates the absolute
and unquestioning subordination of the
individual to society, and asserts the
preservation of individual liberty as an
essential with which civilization will
ultimately reach a more perfect social
can long endure This conception is
constitution in this country. 1t is writ
ten in the heart of every man living
under Anglo Saxon laws the world over,
and its denial, whether it be by king,
or congress, or majority, means that
the lesson of the last 500 years must
be learned again. Uuon what other
ground can the long period of revolu-
tion. sometimes peaceful and sometimes
bloody. in England be explained than
the cropping of the individual for his
individual freedom from restraint?
at has been popular to deny the
lOiCt VI SuCIl CldiIuS dS AHCScs anu ia
these tranquil, peaceful times, the cry
of danger is supposed to come only
from false prophets. 1t is well. how
ever, to reflect that no people ever
rose as a body to overthrow consti-
tuted authority save when that con-
stituted authority arrogated to itself
the right to transgress those privileges
which belong to and affect only the in
dividual. Such rights are the rights
which are guaranteed by our fundamen-
tai law, and which are thus expressed
in the first section of our constitution:
"'All men are by nature, free and
equal and have certain inalienable
rights, among which are enjoying and
defending life and liberty. acquiring,
possessing and protecting property. pur-
suing happiness and securing safety
>"Police power" the attorney argues
further, ''has never, can never, reach
to the extent of prescribing rules OF
conduct for the individual in his home,
and the legislature which attempts so
to enlarge 1t, and the court which al
lows such a thing, are striking tell
ing blow at American liberty, and are
engrafting into our fundamental laws
a principle which all thinking men unite
in condemning, and which II not speed
! lily limited by that source OF all power,
the people will make this country de-
spised Of men, as a country where the
tyranny of majority. however hyster-
ical, carried away by the fad of the
moment, is restrained by no power
under heaven"
Attorney Coffin cites authorities from
many states to fortify the position he
takes. and he reaches the conclusion
that there have been few instances
where an attempt has been made to
vrohibit the bare possession of liquor
for a lawful purpose. and that not in
a single instance has any such attempt
been upheld by the courts.
It is unfortunate that the space
available here does not permit fuller
presentation of the ideas of this young
LAWYER on this vital question. Per-
haps enough is given here to indicate
the scope of the argument and the
grasp Mr. Coffin has on the fundamen-
tai principles involved in the case. Il
is a matter to which the citizens o.
Idaho will give serious consideration
in the months to come, no matter wha
the decision of the supreme court.