Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-28
LOCAL. OPTION.
TIE CALL FOR THE CONVENTION IN
LYECHBURG APRIL 2isT.
Matters of Moment Concerning the Tenn
perance Movement-Preparations
for the Battle, &c.
The following is interesting;

OFFICE or THE STATE CENTRAL
LoCAL.OPTIoN COMMITTEE,
HEADQUARTERS Room No. 4
WILKINSON HALL,
% NORTH NINTH STREET.
By order of a conference Of temper
ance leaders held in Richmond State
Local Option Convention is hereby
called 10 assemble in the city Of Lynch
burg on Wednesday, April 81, 1856,
to organize the opponents OF the liquor
traffic for united action in the contest
which is now before us throughout the
State. "Details as to the number OF
delegates, the method of selecting
them, and the arrangements for trans
portation and entertainment have been
sent to temperance leaders, who will
give due notice thereof in each cOunty.l
The reasons for this call are obvious
ard imperative. The passage Of sgene-
raj local. option law presents a great
opportunity to our people and deyolves
upon them a grave responsibility. The
people of Virginia have at last the OPP
Iortunity of say 'ng whether the State
as financial measure shall encourage
the Iuinous waste of our resources, estl-
mated at more than $4,000, 600, the
sum annually spent in our State for
that which steals away the wit OF the
wise and robs the laborer of his only
wealth-the time, capacity, and dispo-
sition to woTk--entaiiing thus an an
nual loss of many millions more
whether a traffic which fills our jalls,
penitentiaries, and asylums which null
tiplies the expenses Of our courts and
makes paupers to be supported by pub
lie or private charity which brings I'M
told misery to helpless women and ne
elected children: which debauches our
youth, pOurs a stream Of corruption
into political life and strikes deadly
blow at the one hope Of the perpetulty
Of liberty united with OrdeT-the virtue
of our people which is the source Of
most crimes and the ally of all
whether, in short, all the m iltipliedills
which mark the course Of the stream
which flows from the still shall continue
without let or hlndrance in this Com
monwealtb.
The popularity Of this movement ex-
poses it to another possible danger
which it is our duty to avert. If left
to drift uuguided by judicious and au-
tboritatiye leaders Of our own selection
it is liable to be seized upon by selfish
demagogues TO further their own polltl-
cal aspirations. This is no political
question. IL is the cause of home and
Preside against those who profit by
their ruin. pom the wisdom with
which it is directed depends in large
measure its success. The vote which
prohibits the sale of intoxicants in any
community, if sustained by the re'oiute
determination of the people founded
upon a settled conviction of the evils of
the liquor traffic, will prove public
blessing of inestimable worth. To Sc
cure such conviction, determination, and
ballot is a work worthy of patriot, phi
laD'hroplSt, or Chrlsllan' 10 uHeCI
wisely the movement to these ends IS
work worthy of the ablest statesman.
An effort, statesmanlike and deter
mined, will be required. The evil IS
entrenched in the appetites, the social
customs, and the financial interests Of
thousands. Its beneliciaries are organ
lied, and will resist desperately every
attack. But if We do our duty victory
is assured.
We therefore call upon the opponents
Of the liquor traffic in each county to
see that they are represented in the
Convention by thoughtful and earnest
men. Let us meet in council and or
ganzs the forces which are to rescue
our State from the curse Of our age.
WIN. ". SMITH, Chairman.
George ". Hawrhurst, Secretary.