The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1917-06-26
A War For Liberty at
Home

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II the Ievity with which the House
of Representatives has dealt with
Nationwide prohibition were to be
accepted as properly expressive OF
official American sentiment and tenn
permanent, there would be grave rea-
sons for apprehension. There was no
soberness in that action. 1t was
wholly lacking in consideration Of
the popular will II was shockingly
frivolous In its assault upon properly
and industry. 1t was destructive In
its effect upon revenue.
A foreign war carried on In this
fashion by all branches Of govern
ment, civil and military, would pro-
duee more CONSERVATION in the ranks
Of friends than Of foes. Not brewing.
distilling and wine-growing alone
would be subject to attack, but every
other business or interest against
which q prejudicO exists would be
singled out for oblitsration or op-
preston. Such Q spirit has been man
AAG9Ago 8AIc1ag IN HSNoN1A III N~NACLn-
1t IL worse than dangerous; It IL sui
eidaL Buiness cannot be killed and
taxed at the same time.
On q pretense Of morality, the House
OF Representatives does more than
strike down Industries long legaiixed
and wreck property long legitimate
ed It seizss upon the inception Of =
war for Liberty a. . At occasion for
the most sweeping assault upon per.
sonaI liberty ever known Assuming
that enemy spies aud propagandists
are as numerous a. they have been
said to be, In what way, II they had
the power, could they do more to
make the war unpopular and break
the back Of Government
The purpose Of this legislation Il
none the less tyrannical because It Is
urged a. q social reform Once &C
cepted as law, the United States would
have In that enactment an autocracy
more vexatIous as regards the lives
and customs Of the people than that
which we are to confront with arms
In Germany. Because we have en-
listed in the effort to rid the world
Of one despotism. we are asked to
submit ourselves to another, also
claiming to rule by Divine right The
Kaisers who would establish q dietat-
orshIp over tastes and appetites here
are self-anointed. and, like their coun-
terpart abroad, they expect to rule by
humbug and prescription. by terror
and force.
To enslave the American people Is
a big job, but this bill will do It.
To keep S4TO.OO0.O 900 Of liquor rev.
enue out of the National Treasury
every year when money may mean
victory is an Important undertaking.
but this bill viii do It
To destroy thousands Of millions OF
dollars worth OF American property
and throw perhaps a million OF men
out OF work is a project too great
for most Innovators, but this bill will
do W.
To upset the whole financial system
of most American States and cities.
now resting largely upon liquor IL
censes, and put new and crushing
burdens upon classes already heavily
taxed, Is an enterprise which would
appau most crusaders, but the au-
thors and supporters OF this bill enter
upon It as lightly as our enemy ap-
preached the scrap of paper which
safsguarded the integrity OF Belgium,
and with no more conscience.
A battle won by Germany at such
costs as this to American liberty.
property, and industry would be up
celebrated for . week in
Berlin
Even a German peace yielding an |
inflicting such loss upon |
an enemy would be regarded by the
fiercest of the PotsdAm militarists as |
a fair return Of three years Of slaugh-
ter.
II we had = drunken House Of |
II we had . treason
able House Of Representatives, II we |
had a pro-German House OF Rspresen-
could II 90 more for the
enemy than to fire such q torpedo /
or drop such an aerial bomb as this
against a Republic that is stripping
Itself for war!
Zeal, prejudice, bigotry, hate, even
tyranny, may be, sometimes must be.
appealed to in the conflicts OF nations.
Who but public enemies, who but the
ranaticaI Prohibition lobby. well sup
Piled with money and inscriptions
in the use of II, who but treacherous
would deliberately
divide and distract the American
people on such an issue at such a
timer