There is no hope, no help, no refuge in anything but _Prohibition_! And here we art met by two questions, fairly and honestly asked.

First.
Is prohibition right in the abstract as a legislative measure?
Second.
Can prohibitory laws be enforced, and will they cure the evil of drunkenness?
First, as to the question of legislative action.

Can the State forbid the sale of intoxicating drinks as a beverage without violating the natural right of certain citizens, engaged in the manufacture and sale of these articles, to supply them to customers who wish to purchase?
We answer, that no man has a natural right to do wrong; that is, to engage in any pursuit by which he makes gain out of loss and injury to his neighbor.

The essential principle of government is the well-being of the people.

It guarantees to the weak, security against the strong; it punishes evil doers, and seeks to protect its citizens from the evil effects of that unscrupulous selfishness in the individual which would trample on the rights of all the rest in its pursuit of money or power.
Now, if it can be shown that the liquor traffic is a good thing; that it benefits the people; makes them more prosperous and happy; improves their health; promotes education and encourages virtue, then its right to exist in the community has been established.