The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-06-18
CONSTITUTIONAL PROHIBITION
NOT STATUTORY LEGISLA-
TION OUT OF PLACE


TION OUT OF PLACE
Clarence True Wilson, General
Secretary of the Board OF Temper
ance, Prohibition and Public Morals
of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
in a statement issued to pastors OF,
that denomination, calls upon them
to challenge the frequent assertion
that Prohibition is out of place In |
the Constitution because it is in
herently statutory in character.
MEN in public life and prominent
opponents of the Prohibition policy
have recently declared that Prohl-
pition changes the character of the
United States Constitution in that it
is essentially statutory in character,
while the Constitution should deal
only with principles" said Dr.
Wilson. This is not true. Prohib1-
ton is properly embedded in the
Constitution of the United States be-
cause it is an essential principle Oh
Justice. The Government which ls'
established to foster the public wei
fare has no inherent right to license
an anti-social institution. Through
generations the Government did out
rage the rights of the people by
striking hands with an. institution
which destroyed prosperity and
caused innumerable social ills. The
people had a right to expect con-
sistent hostility on the part OF the
Government to all evils which en-
dangered the public health and well
fare, but because the United states
Constitution said nothing in regard
to the attitude the Federal Gov
eminent should maintain toward the
liquor traffic, the people saw their
right ignored and the traffic protect
ed and encouraged by Government,
while the national resources were !
wasted, social delinquency Increased
and vast burden of poverty and
woe was piled upon the shoulders OF
the taxpayers. Treading in the path
of the fathers, the people placed IN
the Federal Constitution, which
prohibits the suspension OF the
right of habeas corpus. ex-post facto
laws, unequal taxation and laws
abridging the right OF free speech,
an amendment which proh1blted
the Government from continuing
policy abhorrent to the spirit OF the
common law and out OF mar
mony with the preamble OF the
Constitution.
The Constitution is to establish
Justice" but the license policy, pro-
tected fraud and filled the treasury
with revenue from trade wnlcn
corrupted politics, defied law ana
profited by the distress OF the
people.
The Constitution was designed to
insure domestic tranquility" but
the Government licensed a trade
which inevitably produced riot, MUIR
der, robbery, debauchery and dis
order.
The Constitution was to provide
for the common Defense" but the
Government licensed men to deal in
commodity which weakened the
bodies and minds OF American
citizens and built a corrupt interest
which imperiled the nation with its
selfish and reasonable activity In
time of war. 1t sold to the liquor
traffic, which had no inherent right,
the privilege of existence and the
right to do wrong.
1t should never be forgotten that
Prohibition was placed in the Fed
eral Constitution by a two-thlrds
vote of men elected by the people
and by the ratification Of more than
three-fourths of the State legls-
latures, also elected by the people.
George Washington said, 1.-The basis
of our political system is the right
of the people to make and to alter
their constitutions and govern
ments." Opponents of Prohibition
have a right to ask repeal OF the
Eighteenth Amendment, but they
have no right to attempt to destroy
Prohibition in any other way"
RESTORING THE OLD SHIP