The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1915-12-14


l read the following editorial sew
eral months ago, l think in the Au-
gusta Chronicle 1t raises an import
eLt question, but one that is not so
difficult of solution to my mind, but
what might seem to me to be happl-
ness might appear to another to be
the opposite of that which is called
happiness. But read this interesting
paragraph:
Is Dope Happiness!
One DR.. Arthur L. Blunt of Chicago,
was charged with aiding drug users in
violating the Harrison anti-narcotic
law. His attorneys, seeking a writ of
habeas corpus, argued before Judge
Kennesaw Mountain Lands of the Uni
ted States court, that the Harrison law
is unconstitutional in that it denies to
drug users the pursuit of happiness.
This opens an interesting field of
! speculation. Is hitting the pipe really
the pursuit of happiness guaranteed to
I-all American citizens under their con-
stitution? After they have hit it do
they get happiness?
Is not all indulgence in crime and
vice open to the same argument? Ii
you think it will make you happy to
kill your neighbor, doesn't the consti-
tuition guarantee you the right to pur-
sue your joy? Haven't you the right,
by the same august document, to
drown your sorrows in drink, to burn
your own house or your neighbor's in
order to roast your pig; to steal, riot
and make a nuisance of yourself gen.
orally, if thereby you think you can
attain your hearts desire?
What is happiness, anyhow? Is it
the mere sensual pleasure of the mo-
ment, followed, as all such pleasures
are by more than proportionate pain?
aUf is it the satisfaction which comes
to a self controlled being, doing his
work in freedom and tempering his
own rights to his neighbors' comfort?
The pursuit of happiness IS our
right. But what is happiness?
Judge Lands denied the writ, and
DR.. Blunt was at last accounts pursu-
ing his in jail.
The Bible and the correct definition
of happiness is in serving others and
making other people happy. What is
happiness anyway? There are just
as many definitions to happiness as
there are individuals in this world.
But the pursuit of happiness, under
the constitution, means that l am to
pursue it just as seemeth to me the
right way, so long as l do not inter
fere with the happiness or the rights
of my neighbor. If should decide
tnat it would make me happy to shoot
my neighbor, that is not the kind OF
happiness guaranteed under the con-
stitution, because it would be an in
I'terference with the right of my neigh
Der to life. If 1 steal my neighbor>s
pig, or burn his house, then that is
net the happiness guaranteed in the
constitution, because interfer with his
right and happiness to enjoy that pig.
But if it makes me happy to be stlngy
and to love money, then, so long as |
do not steal or interfere with the hap
piness of any one else, have a righ:
to the pursuit of that sort OF happl-
ness. And if | want to take a glass
OF beer, and that does not interfere
with the happiness of any one else,
then that is the kind of happiness l
should be entitled to pursue. l just
saw a picture of Mrs. Gait and Presl-
dent Wilson in one of the papers. They
are both smiling so broad that they
expose all of their teeth. Now, that is
happiness the pursuit of which is their
right. But if dope is happiness or not
| do not know. If the use of it brings
misery and woes and all the evils that
are said to follow in its wake, then,
it is injurious to my neighbor, and
should not let him have it. And l
reckon that is what all these fellows
that are regulating human conduct by
legislation will say about beer-that 1t
is injurious and hurtful, and, therefore
does. not contribute to my happiness,
and l should not have it, and it makes
them happy to deny it to me. And that
they are following the pursuit Of hap
piness in denying it to me. That is
their argument, but not mine.