The Washington times., 1923-06-25

encounter with Mrs. Sutton.
stitutes one of the most demoral-
izing factors in the situation.
Still Political Issue.
1t was very generally believe
that the adoption of the Constitu-
tional amendment would take the
question out of our politics. Tnus
far 1t has not done so, though
venture to predict that neither OF
the great parties viii see the time,
within the lives of any who are
now voting citizens, when 1t VIII
declare openly for the repeal OF
the eighteenth amendment. But
despite all that. the question Is
kept in politics because of the al
most fanatical urgency Of the
minority of extremists on both
sides. Unless, through the rec
uation in its true light, through
the effective enforcement Of the
law by all the constituted authort-
ties, and with the acQuiescence OF
the clearly dominant public opin-
ion of the country, the question IS
definitely removed from the do.
main of political action, 1t will
continue a demoralizing element
in our whole public life. 1t will
be a permanent bar to the wise
determination Of many issues
utterly unrelated to the liquor
question. IT will be the means OF
encouraging disrespect for many
laws. 1t will bring disrepute upon
our community, and be pointed to
as justifying the charge that we
are nation OF hypocrites. There
can be no issue in this land para.
mount to that of enforcement OF
the law.
1t is easy to understand the
conditions out of which much UNI
rest has developed, but it is not
easy to comprehend so much of
complacency amid a developing
peril. l want to give warning
against that peril.
Many citizens, not teetotalers in
their habits, lawfully acquired
stores of private stocks in antici-
patton Of prohibition, pending the
ratification of the amendment and
the enactment of the regulatory
law. Many others have had no
scruple In seeking supplies from
those who veEd in defiance of
the law. The latter practice is
rather too costly to be INDUCED
by the masses, SO there are
literally American millions who
resent the lawful possessions Of
| the few, the lawlesS practices of
| few more, and rebel against the
denial to the vast majority.
| Universal prohibition in the
| United States would occasion far
| less discomfort than partial pro-
hibition and partial indulgence.
1t is the partial indulgence
| which challenges the majesty Of.
| the law, but the greater crime is
| the impairment of the moral fiber
Of the republic. The resentful
millions have the example Of
law defiance by those who can
afford to buy, and are reckless
enough to take the risk, and there
| is inculcated contempt for law
which may some day find express
sion in far more serious form.
Awakened Conscience.
I do not see how any citizen
who cherishes the proection OF
| law. in organized society may
feel himself secure when he him.
self Is the example Of contempt
|
for awakened conscience and
awakened realization Of true self
interest on the part Of the few
who will themselves suffer most
when reverence for law Is for
gotten and passion is expressed
in destructive lawlessness. Oura
must be law-abiding republic,
and reverence and obedience must
spring from the influential and
! the leaders among men, as well
as obedience from the humber
citizen, else the temple will col.
lapse.
Whatever satisfaction there
4 may be in indulgence, whatever
objection there Is to the so-called
| invasion OF personal liberty.
neither counts when the suprem-
acy of law and the stability OF
our institutions are menaced.
With all good intention the ma
jority sentiment OF the United
States has sought by law to re-
move strong drink as a curse
upon the American citizen. but
ours is a larger problem now to
remove lawless drinking as a
menace to the Republic itself
| There Is another phase Of law.
observance to which reference Is
impelling. I am thinking OF the
law to the golden rule. a statute
| from the Man of Nazareth, who
brought new peace and new hope
to mankind, and proclaimed serV.
ice to men the highest tribute to
| God.
Service is both the inspiration
and the accomplishment of quite
everything worth while which
impels us onward and upward.
| With service which the Na2arene
would approve are associated nll
| our ideals and our. finer aspira-
| lions. We accept the doctrine for
ourselves, as we ought. because
1 we must be firmly established
and BEAUTIFULLY and hopefully
strong ourselves before we can
be effectively helpful to others.
Service to World.
But I believe the law of service
demands our larger helpfulness
to the world, No, / do not mean
ENHANCEMENT in Old World poll
| tics or sponsorship for the ad-
| Justment of Old World contro-
Versies. / do mean the commit
ment of this Nation to the pro-
motion and preservation of inter-
! national peace, to the judicial set
| Element of disputes which. unless
settled, lead TO added irritation,