The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-04-14
PROHIBITION IS
CONTENTION BONE
Between Two Doughty
Verbal Warriors.
THIS ONE GETS A COME BACK
And Defends His Attitude
In a Former Article In
The Herald.
HE YET CONTENDS HE'S RIGHT

The long-suffering readers of the
dear old Herald can fully sympa-
thize with poor Job when he cried
out in his sore Affections, "Who is
he that darkeneth counsel by words
without knowledge?" When man,
whose chief stock in trade is a GU
rious collection of stilted phrases
ndescriminately strung together
with no more art, rhyme or reason
than Bologna sausage, reels off in
excruciating tones that make one
want to jump up and scream for
axle grease, ignores all argument and
makes your article a mere pretext
ed solutions of profound social prob
lems-about like an ape with a
gourd fiddle would interpret the ex-
quisite charm of Beethoven's Sonata,
Panthetique-your first impulse is
to rebuke him for the ignoble uses
to which he has debased your seri-
Gus effort, then you stop to inquire
whether such an alleged attack
should be dignified with a reply, or,
in better taste, dismissed with a
profane silence.
In these periodical eruptions
from Strut creek, which it is to be
hoped, at least, serve to keep the
settlement from worrying so much
about dog-tax, crops and things,
nothing is ever denied, affirmed or
answered. In fact, in his absorb
ing hunt for jaw-breakers he misses
the whole face of the earth. He
couldn't hit the ground with his
hat.
The one thing he did succeed in
doing, however, but probably with
out knowing it, was to grossly mis-
represent my position and 1 trust
this, if nothing else, will justify
some sort of reply.
1t is said the biggest job a man
ever undertook is to get under the
hide of a conceited ass with ridi-
cule. So it would be folly for me to
SILVER my poor lance upon this rhl-
nocerine specimen, and, since his
unique method of controversy ex-
cludes argument, l must confine my
self to simple correction.
A Democrat clearly distinguishes
between liberty and license and cheer
fully surrenders to society such liber-
ties as are necessary to preserve the
rest, but right here he draws line,
knowing he does not owe, and socie-
ty does not need the sacrifice of
man to that Unsuitable Moloch, "The
Public Good" knowing it would be
fatal to both as it is only in exalting
the unit that the whole can be ele-
waited.
Surely nothing is in my position
which differs from Prohibition only
in the method of attaining uniyer-
sal sobriety, than which no greater.
grander work could be accomplished
by man; for of all crusades, that of
turning into useful pursuits the
magnificent, dynamic energies and
the priceless time and talent now
more than wasted in debauchery,
would be greatest. 1t would not
only revolutionize the intellectual
and ooonoDoio uyorId hut a. uo,,ld
solve tremendous social and indus
trial problems which the world. half
drunk, can never solve. 1t would
bring a Internationally. 1t would
even run the glorious Cundiff DEM
ocracy a mighty close second, al
though the "Plan of Salvation"
seems to be about his only rival. By
the way. why doesn't somebody can
onize or ostracise this sainted ben
efactor? Lots o. fellers would be
glad to help hold i'm while you're
a dom Nv it. say, nothing in my
position can be fairly construed to
mean | favor reversion to a state
of nature thai tolerates the slightest
invasion of the rights of others, or
intimates a desire to repeal the
laws that protect them.
Am to be denounced as a Des-
tructive because maintain that
reforms must take place within the
heart and mind and not. in legisla-
tive halls; that morals must have a
better foundation than sumptuary
laws; that temptations have their
uses in developing character; that
there is no real mastery but self