Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1921-02-09
WHAT is TRUE LIBERTY?
Vets Still Whining for Tanking-U Up
Priviieges-Liberty Not License.
(H. II. Culver, New York. }

olBnteentn anu nineteenth amend
ments Government by Bullying"
He asks, "Have the American people
become tired Of liberty?" Like the
bar-room disputant, he confuses lib
erty with license. True liberty Is lib
erty under the law. Said John Jay,
the first Chief Justice Of the United
States, Nothing but strong gov
eminent Of laws, irresistlbly, irresist-
IDLY bearing down arbitrary power
and RIGHTEOUSNESS can defend it
(the new government)- against
these two formidable enemies. Let
1T be remembered that civil liberty
consists not IN fight Of every man
to do just as he pleases, but in an
equal right to all citizens to have,
enjoy and do, in peace, security and
without molestation whatever the
equal and constitutional laws OF the
country admit to be consistent with
the public good"
Liquor Not Consistent With Good.
Prohibition was an act of national
self-defense. If prohibition Of the
entire liquor traffic Is "bulIying,"
then prohibition Of any part Of it is
bullying. SO, if Mr.. Giddings is con-
sistent he would object to the vari-
! Gus restrictions that have been plac-
ed upon the traffic from time to time.
Saloons have been forbidden to keep
open for certain days and during GER
tain hours. They have been forbid
| den to sell to minors, to habitual
drunkards, to Indians, etc. Had they
obeyed these laws their sales would
have been decreased, and some of
them put out Of business. Laws for
bidding more than certain number
of saloons to each 1000 inhabitants
have been passed, putting some deal
ers out OF business Local option
| has closed thousands OF saloons.
We're these acts government by bul-
! lying?" No; they were futile at
tempts to regulate an evil, and the
persistent defiance Of all laws has
convinced the American people that
the liquor traffic cannot be mended,
and, therefore, must be ended.
| 1t Is nauseatihg to hear opponents
of prohibition talk of liberty as syn
onymous with the license of class
to ruin manhood, debauch woman
hood and blight childhood. 20, Lib
erty, Liberty, what crimes are COM
mitted in thy name!" Hear the pur-
turbed Mr.. Giddings: do we now
despise all those political principles
that were set forth in the Declara-
tioH of independence, for which the
War Of Independence was fought and
which were formulated in the earlier
amendments Of the Federal Consti-
tution?" Bah! Shucks! Rats! Like
wise, Piffle! AS Bob Burdette said,
"The Declaration Of independence
was not written on a beer keg in a
saloon on Sunday afternoon, not by
a jug-full!" And reference to the
Federal Constitution Is equally inept.
What were the objects which the
trainers OF the Constitution had in
mind? Its preamble tells US: "To
form moro perfect union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense, pro-
mote the general welfare, and secure
the blessings Of liberty to ourselves
and our posterity."
''To form a more perfect union" :"
We have moro perfect union since
slavery was abolished. And we will
have still more perfect union with
the liquor traffic outlawed from
ocean to ocean.
"To establish Justice" BY brib-
cry, by intimidation, by forcing sa.
looms into unwilling communi los, by
trickery OF every kind, the liquor
power has ever sought to thwart JUS.
tice.
ITO insure domestic tranquility"
The drink evil has been the great de-
stroyer OF domestic tranquility, the
great promoter of discord and dis.
turbance.
"To provide for the common de.
fense." We found during the war
that it was necessary to keep liquor
away from the training camps, and
that It h!ndered military efficiency
IN the rear. The disloyalty OF the
brewers was shown by Congressional
investigation. Won Moltke su!d,
Beer Is far moro dangerous enc