Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1885-02-19

PROHIBITION.

4 jnip rysauiion proposing nm amend
nent to iae Constitution OF this State pro-
hi5itins ,he manufacture and sale OF intoxi-
cain. liquors was under discussion in the
House 81 Delegates last week. Quite
spirited debate occurred Thursday, inwhich
Hon. D, Is. Luea. participated. We give a
sample
AIR Lucas tLea moved 20 strike out The
VOID mauui. -iure" IN line slN 50 the ieso-
luiior would read The sale and keeping
for sadie o.. all intoxicating liquors, etc
This raised another row.
Sin. Dean opposed the amendment. 1t
MA, I'm thc mauumctur of liquor that the
eist of the trouble lay.
Mr.. Lucas said the object OF this amend
meut oas simply 90 save the House from 40
inc an unnecessary thing. In his neigh
boring count, of Berkeley, for every barrel
sold % our citizens one hundred barrels
we're sent abroad. Did theadvocates OF tins
amendment imagine Tor moment thai Ihe
adoption of this measure would prevent the
sale aEd consumption OF lntoElc3uts IN Nesl
Virginia? They must all know that II
would not.
Why did not the friends OF this measure
have the courage % put upon the statute
books of the State laws carrying out their
wishes. If this Legislature desired TO pro-
hibii the sale or keeping for sale, well and
good. bu he appealed TO the members not
10 DO foolish thing In prohibiting the man
umc,ure of liquor aad thereby break uP Inc
grcat manufactures Of our state
SIR. Dean replied Co the gentleman. lie
resented the idea that those who were en-
deavoring TO elevate mankind were fanatics
and enthusiasts Not a reform had ever
been made since the foundation Of the world
+ but It's adYocate~ were enthusiasts Not
grand discovery bad ever been made, in
+ any of The branches of science, but that the
/ di,covcrcr was an enthusiast = II the
proposition of the gentleman from Jefferson
. WAS correct then there were but two classes
into which society conld be INlfeA IA
patics. "whO had made every grand discovery
and wrought every reform Tor the eieVauOn
of mankind since the dawn of history, ana
mo-Shlcks. who never Instituted a reform
since the morning stars sang together ana
aU the sons of God shouted iof JOY lie
spurned the idea of "a consideration OF rev
euue when that revenue was wrung rom
the life blood of tho people and obtained al
the expense OF every noble instinct of hu'
mainly
Mr.. Lucas said the most illiberal and
stubborn people with whom he had ever
been brought IN contact, were these selt-con-
stiu.ed. ianatical reiormeTS. lie denied
tliat thcpeople who advocated this reform
understood the fundamental principle OF
government. lie referred, in a highly hui
morou, sud entertaining manner, to his eX-
periencc i'm local option count!e- ~ West
Virginia.
Mr. Powell would rather be enthusiastic
ally right than st0icaily wrong.
Mr. Sayrc Sas astoundcd at the charge OF
the gentleman from Jefferson that the
friends of ths measure had not the man
hood TO put certain laws upon the statute
books. The friends of this measure pro-
posed 90 carry out the matter in their own
way. After the narration of the personal
experiences and private history Of the gen
Heman from Jefferson, it was very evident
60 the House what the standard Of the gen
teuan was. He as glad to be able to say
that the friends OF the bill were above gro
Yelling about dram shops and distilleries,
and advocating the interest Of the liquor
+ traffic