The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1879-09-09

II 1t were possible by legislation to
.LIArr THE SALE OF STRONG DRINK
to proper purposes. it might be wise. in
view Of its manifold miscbiefs, to doit. The
| principle adopted, however, would require
THAT other articles OF traffic liable to abuse,
as gunpowder, opium, deadly weapons,
and, indeed, almost all commodities, should
| be sold under the same restrictions. AS,
however, it is clearly impossible that legls-
lation can control the purposes fer which
LIQUORS shall be sold or used, its only aim
should be to guard, by judic'ous laws,
against their abuse aud mischiefs. In this
view OF the case, what restrictions. II any,
should be imposed on grog shops!
They are clearly not public necessity.
We suppose that their most Jealous sup
porters will concede that they are not de.
manded for public utility. They may be
profitable to their keepers, convenient to
those who visit them, and source OF en-
| joyment to their patrons; but certainly no
public interest, pecuniary, moral, or polltl-
cal, is advanced by them. II every grog.
shop in the land were suppressed, can any
| body suppose that the public would be DAM
aged? We Judge not. LIZ they are licensed
and protected then, it must be not for the
public advantage, but for the benefit OF their
keepers and the pleasure OF their patrons.
LEGISLATION SHOULD INTERFERE AS LITTLE
az the public interest will allow with the
rights, incinations, and pursuits OF indl-
yiduaIs. Still all Governments, especially
all free Governments, are based on conces-
sions. Personal rights and interests are, to
some extent, yielded for the common good.
| A small private advantage must be sacrificed
| for great public benefit. On this principle
| Governments establish quarantine regula-
| tions, abate nuisanceS, restrain rash and
violent persons, and adopt sanitary laws.
greatly to the Inconvenience and detriment
OF individuals. To the iudicious exercise
OF this power patriotic and enlightened cit
liens do not object, even when their per-
scnal rights are invaded and their enjoy
ments are abridged. . .-...'
In consideration Of this necessary princi-
pie OF legislation, what claims have grog-
shops to legal protection? They are not
demanded for the public good. Are they n
public injury?
dealers on this subject. None know better
than they the influence and
FRUITS OF DRINKING-sALOoNS. ..
We cannot Judge of their effects by our
own observations; but, unless public sem
timent is greatly at fault in all parts Of the
country, grog-shops are nurseries or idle
ness, intemperance, extravaganza, and al
| most every species Of vice. They lead to
pauperism, strife, and not unfrequently. to
| bloodshed., Much OF the poverty and de-
gradation, and most of the crimes Of the
country, may be traced to drunkenness,
and this to grog-shops and the influences
tinseparable from them. That many persons
| 80 xx-it i'm ".
cess or sharing in the evils they produce is
| little to the purpose in this discussion.
Grog-shops must be Judged by their gene
raj tendency-a tendency to evil, only evil,
and everywhere and at all times evil
Do these evils justify prohibitory or re.
strictive legislation? II the mischiefs caused
by erog-shops were confined to those who
patronize them, it might seem to be need
| less encroachment on personal rights to lnl-
pose any restraints upon them; but this is
| by no means the case. A very small por-
tion OF the burdens created by them falls
on those who patronize them. lf
BRAwLs AND BLoODsHED ENsUE,
who pay the cost OF the prosecution and
punishment OF the criminals? II families
are reduced by drunkenness to pauperism,
on whom falls the burden Of supporting
them in the poorhouse or elsewhere? Eve
rybody knows that the expenses consequent
on pauperism and crime are borne chiefly,
not by the patrons OF grog-shops, but by
the sober and industrious citizens who
) avoid these haunts OF dissipation. 1t seems
clear that a community has the equitable
right to protect itself against such serious
burdens, even il that protection is secured
by an abridgement OF the privileges and
pleasures of individuals.
| ,sx.Ik Pa yun ls I'M
yersally claimed and exercised by govern
ments, national and municipal. The law
adopted for the purpose are greatly diyerSl
fed. Some are stringent and some mild
| some prohibit and some aim to limit the sal'
/ of intoxicating drinks; but all are designed
Ito abate the mischiefs OF drunkenness-on
OF the worst and most degrading vices o.
the English-speaking people.
| The adoption OF efficient laws Tor the
] SUPPRESSION OR RESTRAINTS OF GRoG-sHoPs
.ealls for sound legislative wisdom and care
Iful consideration. We should be glad II
nublic sentiment demanded and woult
firmly sustain the entire interdiction o.
drinking-saloons. They are unnecessary
| for any purpose OF hygiene, comfort, OF
!. civilization. If men must drink, let then
drink at home. They are exposed to les'
Temptation and danger when they drink
alone than when they drink under the ex
hilarGtion of social intercourse and exam
nile. Perhaps hotel-keepers should be al.
lowed to sell iiquers, but only TO theli
guests. .....
demand restrictions SO rigid for the pre-
yeation OF drunkeDness. it does, how
ever, require, and, as Re think most right
eousiy. the closing Of drinking saloons on
Lordss DAYS. The Sabbath and the grog'
shops are directly autagonistie. BY how
much the bar is patronized by so much the
church and the Sunday school are neglect
cd. These are designed and adapted to
promote .'Fr
TEMPERANCE. THRIFT, AND NATIONAL PROS
SO. PERIrY;
that, whatever may be its proiessed pur-
pose, is the mother OF drunkenn ness, the
nurse OF vice, aud the patron OF peDury.
Let the Sabbath do its appropriate work,
xad let not boys and young men be attract
ed from its proper services by the finely
gilded decanters, with the sparkling but
4He dram. shop In the whols county Is the proud
Characteristic Of Edwards county, Illinois The re.
suite as may be expected e The of
twentV-fye years ago that no liquor should be sold
in the county aud since that day they have seat but
one pefs1a 70 the pcniteniisrysnnd he committed
crime while drunk wsn Nv
"a sd per cent lower than In the adjoining coun-
and their Terms sf court oeenpy asres dsys 70
tnruAi more peDHsrtY thxn any other e0snsy 10 ihe
efnse M, eounI population. This u case NheSetne