The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1922-01-22
CITIZENSHIP AND THE LAW


One of the most imperative duties of good
citizenship is respect and obedience to the law of
the land. A citizen is not accorded the privilege
of obeying only those laws of which he approves
and which do not Immediately interfere with his
pleasure and preferences. Even when laws are
irksome and not completely just they should be
obeyed while on the statute books, for the sake
of all laws, for the sake of responsible govern
ment. for the sake of the sef-respect of the ma
ton.
And this applies at the present time urgently
to the Vostead Act for the enforcement of the
Eighteenth Amendment. This act has been pass
ed by Congress, upheld by the Supreme Court
and has received the Endorsement of majority
of the people. And the obvious, irrefutable duty
of every citizen is to uphold it, to honestly respect
and personally obey it, no matter what their in
dvdual preferences may be- The fact that many
thousands of otherwise reputable citizens feel per-
fectly justified in eyading it, if they can, cannot
be condoned. If that attitude is upheld in con-
nection with the one law it must inevitably hold
good with other laws ultimately bringing all laws
into contempt and ridicule and undermining the
very foundations of government.
When doctors, no matter what their profess
sional standing, abuse their privileges under the
Volstead Act they are undesirable citizens
Indeed if any citizen whose commerce or profess
sion offers special opportunities for evasion of the
law takes advantage of his privileges he is thrice
as cupable as the ordinary citizen, since he is
not only breaking the law but abusing special
trust And violation of such trust is an offense
against human principles deserving Of full punish
ment.
Prohibition is the law of the land and the
Volstead Act provides for its strict enforcement.
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point. Every citizen with a spark of consideration
for the honor of his country must appreciate the
necessity for honorable cooperation if our gov
eminent is to avoid the rdcule of the world. There
can be no half-measures. Any reputable citizen
who compromises with his conscience on this mat
ter, regards the law joke to be held in private
contempt and connives in its evasion is as much a
menace to this cOuntry's honor and safety, pres
tige and power as the reddest rebel eXtant
This country is ruled by majority vote and its
basic strength depends upon respect and adher-
ence to majority decisions and law enforcement.
No house can stand that is divided against itself,
and the present wholesale violations of the pro-
hbtion amendment create condition that may
well become disastrous. When it is possible to
evade one law all laws become insecure Hence
at this time it is the supreme duty of all respons
ibe and patriotic citizens to honestly cooperate
ter what their private opinion of that act, no mat
ter what sacrifices, if sacrifices they are, may be
entailed. It is not a sacrifice to freakish opinion,
it is not even a sacrifice of personal liberty, since
our much-boasted liberty can have no vertabe
standing without the majesty of the law to en-
force equality of Justice Any sacrifices under
the EOlstead Act are sacrifices on behalf of the
credit and standing of our own country. its gov
eminent, laws and national honor If sacred
amendments to our Constitution may be ridiculed
cheated scomed with impunity, the foundations
our government are built upon sand and cannot
endure.
Citizens Of Mississippi, the thing appeals to
YOU individually and collectively to recognize your
special and particular responsibility in this crisis
Prohibition may be a rabid Innovation tremend-
GUS experiment, an entirely new application of
Federal supremacy; it may entail new efforts of
self-control and self-dena, a new form of patriot
ism, but il is a part of the Constitution of these
beloved United States to which every citizen owes
debt of honor, of affection, of service and of
reverence that no personal taste or comfort should
ever be allowed to belittle or modify.
Which of as would willingly sell our country's
honor for a drink of whisky? Who among US
would wish to profit by his country's dishonor?
Yet evasion and cheating of the Vostead Act
amounts TO Just that. no matter how one seeks
10 justify his conscience. Triing as each small
violation may appear TO US severally our collec-
tive Reputation of the Eighteenth Amendment is
plain national treachey.
Friends. citizens, cOuntrymen, uphold the Con-
stituti0n and defend it you would your lives.
That way, and that way only, lies honor.