University of San Francisco - USF Don Yearbook (San Francisco, CA)

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coxfljct of lmf axd liberty 11 the Government and the governed, the relationship of father to son, or places the governed in a state of dependency upon the decisions of the Government. Now, in a republic, such as ours, in a democracy which by its eulogists is said to have gone farther than any other nation of history in the protection of the private rights of its citizens—in short, in these L'nited States, conceived in liberty, dedicated to liberty, ever the sanctum of liberty, how odious is this system of government, State paternalism, the stifler of freedom, which would so circumscribe our boasted personal independence as to make it absolutely contingent upon the whims and determinings of our neighbors. And yet, with its innate distastefulness, the tendency in that direction is each day more pronounced. Its strength is to be felt in the anti-liquor amendment. And, ladies and gentlemen, though in truth the prohibitionists are a dry sort of people, we will find that victory, despite their dryness, will inflame their hearts, and enkindle their imaginations in much the same manner as a warming wine. Conscious of their power, powerful in their success, they will find new fields on which to battle highly exaggerated evils. Reform will beget reform, and each in its turn will infringe on private liberty, the civil society in its newly-created office will begin to encroach on the realm of the domestic, and what will result?—OPPRESSION—of a new form perhaps, but none the less, oppression—the reign of tyranny, the arrogant sway of pettiness, dwelling in high places, and then like the violent eruption of a muttering volcano, will come the rousing of a long-suffering people, a people from whose eyes has at last been snatched the rose-tinted glass of illusion, a people whose blind quest for social uplift has betrayed them into the loss of inestimable privileges—ah. this is truly something to ponder upon, this awakening, such an eruption as can

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10 THE IGX ATI AX stitution of these United States; second, that the possible benefits to be derived from prohibitive legislation are in their insignificance, incomparable with the most precious possession of the American citizen—his sacred personal liberty; and that lastly, we believe that any movement naturally antagonistic to our individual freedom, is fraught with latent dangers to the peace and unity of our republic.” That, ladies and gentlemen, must be your answer, as American citizens: and now let us together review that last, most vital portion of it, namely, the dangers that threaten our national unity and harmony. To-day, there stands on the highroads of our national existence, a glaring searchlight. Its brilliant circumference has become the cynosure of the eyes of many who travel the road and to them blinded by the staring whiteness of its light, all objects which lie farther along the highway are concealed in contrasting gloom. If we would pierce the darkness, we must shield our eyes from the glare. That searchlight is social betterment, the splendid beacon of those whose aim is prohibitive legislation. The travelers attracted by the blazing glory of its surface are those who, misled by the loftiness of their idealism, have become oblivious to all else, and their blinded eyes are the eyes of their once practical but now dazzled rationality. The objects which lie hidden in the shadows are the latent dangers of moral reforms, accomplished by Federal laws. Xow, in my own limited way, have attempted in the preceding portion of my speech to construct a shield of unsentimental truth, which, by shading the eyes of our reason from the confusing glare of that light of social betterment, we may be enabled to penetrate the obscurity beyond and examine, one by one. the shrouded dangers that are consequent upon prohibitive legislation. The source of all the perils that jeopardize our peace and unity to-day, is a strong, popular tendency toward State paternalism; the condition which creates between

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12 run igxutux hurl tlu hot lava of human hatred from Cuba to Alaska— from the Philippines to Maine. And you, ladies and gentlemen, here to-night—for some of you may be honest believers in prohibitive legislation— remember that the more heavenly the dream, the more violent the awakening: that remembering it. you may gradually rouse yourselves and lessen its embittering shock. Let us be dupes no longer! Let us cast forth from our intellects these plans for prohibitive legislation, the burning ashes of a noxious incense that would drug us into the sleep of credulity for the purpose of our enslavement. Let us cast forth those ashes, because, as true Americans, we recognize in them the scent of tyranny and national dismemberment. And then when we have done this, when in our enlightenment we have relegated prohibitive legislation and all its coterie of awful possibilities to the tombs of the forgotten, let us set up for ourselves, in some conspicuous place, the warning motto — 'Pe temperate in all things.” and by way of amendment let us add, “even in our reforms”—that in following the teaching of that wise old precept, we may continue our national existence—in prosperity, security and peace. Edward Ignatius Fitzpatrick. Ifirfit (Cnmntuutmt Sweet Jesus, when Thou dost abide Within this spotless breast. And there Thy Majesty dost hide, Seeking calm peace and rest,— Unto that warm and tender heart The treasures of Thy Love impart.