The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-06-19

'"NN wv wv 'hlNiffIn'Ul OF ilt NOi
stltutional amendment IL adopted, and
to the nomination Of men for Executive
and Administrative Offices, who will
Enthusiastically endeavor to enforce
the laws 50 enacted II is useless TO
enact laws IL they remain dead letters
on the Statute books.
No Suggestion Of Party.
This suggestion does not involve the
selection of men Of any political party
or faith. II they are sound on the
main question, Prohibition" IL mat
tiers not wheher they be Republican,
Democrat, or Independent.
Preliminary to the formal launching
of our campaign, IL Is deemed cxpedi-
ent and wise to issue declaration Of
our aims and purposes, and with Il a
brief summary of the reasons which
we think should inspire the zeal of all
who believe with us that intemperance
Is the greatest evil with which our
state Is now menaced
AT the very outset we reject as
utterly fallacious the contention that
prohibition will decrease the revenue
Of the state; all experience shows that
the additional financial burden placed
upon the state 10y intoxication is far
greater than the revenue paid in as
taxes and licenses upon liquor and its
sale. Liquor fills the jails, the reform
atories, the aims houses, the asylums
for the insane and the orphan asylums !:
II produces extravaganza, waste and
inefiiciency on every hand.
Like Revenue From War.
As well might one. fixing his mind
alone on the indemnity paid by France
To Germany In 1901 or tnat TO he
paid by the Central powers to the
allies for the world war, talk Of the
revenue by war-such view would
leave out of sight the desolation of
Belgium, France and Serbia, or the
countless billions lost by all Of the
nations in the catclysm of carnage and
destruction.
War is not a revenue producer
neither is whisky, and for the same
reason. But every thoughtful man
knows that the real wealth of the
state is not in its lands or houses or
gold or in its crops or live stock, but
Ia its able-bodied and efficient citizens
and especially in its youth. The bright
eyed, strong-bOdied, high-browed boys
and girls of the Commonwealth con
stitue the real wealth of the state
hrfs. L.. a.
casket of its wealth and glory. II these
be educated in mind and soul and
body, there has been called into ex-
istence power for good, the fair fruit
age of which the most distant ages
will enjoy; but IL, on the other hand
they be allowed to grow up in ignor-
ance and sin or debauched by liquor,
a loss has been suffered by the Com
monwealth from which there can be no
escape
Personal Liberty cIsmor.
We put aside as irrelevant the
clamOr as To the vested rights and per
sonal liberty of those engaged in the
MANUFACTURE and sale of liquor, or of
those who would leave men free, not
only 10 debauch themselves by drunk
enness, but both by precept and exam
pie 10 lead the youth of the state into
the evils of intemperance There can
be no vested right to manufacture or
sell liquor. The true philosophy Of law
teaches, and the courts now unan.
mously hold, that the liquor traffic j.
a dangerous business readily falling
within the dominion of the police pow
er of the state, and may AT any time
be either regulated or suppressed as
the wisdom of the government die
tates. The hoariness of the evil, there
fore, adds nothing to its right to ex-
list, but rather accentuates the neces-
sity for its immediate extinction.
We also brush aside the specious
argument of mans personal lib
erty TO debauch himself by drunk
enness. No man is the owner of
himself absolutely; of his life he
is, but the trustee of an express
trust; first, for the glory of God and
the exempllhcation by right living of
the wisdom of his creation; second, for
the service of his country and the up
holding of It's highest ideals of citizen
ship; and third, for the perpetuation
of posterity and the evolution of a
higher and nobler race. II is his duty
then to SO develop his life as TO show
forth the glory Of his Creator, and TO
fulfill the purposes of his creation.
II Is his duty TO serve his country in
every way that will rebound TO its
grandeur and power and glory.
Patriotism Chief Need.
What every country needs most is
love of its citizens
not alone that patriotism that leads a
man TO willingly die for his country in
time OF war-that, indeed. is we'll
but that higher patriotism, that greater |
love that enables a man TO live for |
his country in time of peace; TO live |
for IL day by day, showing forth In his |
daily life the beauty and grandeur of |
good citizenship; that enables him TO |
say 10 the CRATER and the corruption |
list, Thus far shalt thou go but no
further" that enables him TO say TO |
those who would debauch or corrupt |