The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-03-10

three hundred years ago, Is hardly
sufficient proof that he is com
pounding with debauchery, or &c
make him feel that his politics is a
reflection upon his christian charac
ter. He can be Just as good chris.
tian in his party as in the Prohibi.
ton party. In fact, better, be.
cause a Democrat is never hide.
bound by an overweaning desire to
take charge of his neigh boris soul
and literally legislate IL into Heav-
en-.
In theory I'm a teetotaler and |
have backed that theory with a life
of absolute abstinence, and let me
say here that legislation never had
the slightest, remotest possible in
fuence in shaping this course, but
I'm not a Prohibitionist, because |
believe the puny arm of the law
which can only denounce penalties.
is wholly inadequate to save mans
soul and to venture into this field
of legislation would not only incite
contempt for its authority, but its
helpless efforts would invite -ridi-
Guile.
The Democrat who has been
made to feel that his politics handi-
caps his religion, must bear in mind
that probihit;on o,J total ok..;
hence are not synonymous terms, no
more than compulsion and volition :;
that a man may abstain without be-
coming a Prohibtionist and. con-
versely, he may be a rantankerous
rohibitionist-want to regulate
your tastes and leave his own free
and still be confirmed tippler
1t is one thing to regulate your own
private affairs and quite another to
have a mallet-headed, lantern-jaw-
ed, hatchet-faced. rat-eyed, leather
lunged crank butt in and do the
m-better'n-you" act-an intol-
cradle impertinence that rouses
the strongest resentment in every
Anglo-SaXOn heart. If he were cam
did, If he would haul down his false
colors, come out In the open and
practice what he breaches; he would
propose a law to punish. not the
seller. but the drinker who is al
together to blame. True, on such
a proposition he couldn't carry a
single precinct in ali North Ameri-
ca, but it would test his true
strength and show him where he's
at" and it would also cause many
a hypOcrite to rise up and bless the
secret ballot and curse the good,
old-time manhood suffrage.
There could be no such thing as
individual responsibility without
the free moral agency to choose be-
tween the good and bad. Character
could not be developed without the
temptations that are strewn along
our pathway to bring into full play
the einate, latent moral forces. 1t is
the scheme of nature that man
can be developed only by his own
efforts. COmpulsion only hardens
the sensibilities and hinders the
process of development. So it would
be unwise, if possible. to remove all
temptations, as it is resistance that
makes the man, and the greater
the struggle the stronger and no.
bier the character. Imagine a crea-
ture grown to maturity from whom
a Puritan legislature had removed
all temptation-what a despicable
slob. a disgusting mass of spineless
jelly, utterly irresponsible and with
out trace of character, for whom
it were labor lost to prepare either
a hell or heaven. Sin is beyond the
reach of legislation. God Almighty
has seen to that, knowing what
botch it would make of it. mo
man can save another's soul nor
pay another's debt" Otherwise we
could haul every sinner into court |
and compel him to believe, repent |
and be baptized, thus settling the |
whole complicated mess.
Democracy stands for Home Rule, |
local self-gOvernment and all that is |
best in politics. morals and relig-
ION. Nothing can OBSCURE this fact.
II relies on moral suasion. appeal J
ing to inherent moral principles to
10 the real reforms. and it recog-
1izes the futility of compulsion. 1t
Knows that reforms, however slow
md tedious, must come from the
leart and brain. not from legisla-
i've halls; that precept and example
ire the only weapons a freeman has
md should have among freemen. II
Jnows that the enforcement of any
aw depends upon the public senti-
nent back of IL; that. If county unit
all. the failure of State or Nation
vide is inevitable. because it must
epend upon the same public senti-
nent. the same juries and witness