Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-04
UNITED STATES SENATE, !
WAsHINGTON. ID. c.,
March 80, 1886.


March 80, 1886.
Nr. ". ". Smith. ashland, "a:
Dear Sir,-A very few words will do
for an answer to your letter Of inquiry
as to the effect on taxation and property
values in Georgia as the result of pro-
hibiiion. The allegation that these have
been affected ipjuriously is simply a
device Of the enemy. There has not
been the fraction Of a mill added to
our tax in Georgia by reason of prohi-
bition, nor, taking values in Atlanta as
an index, has there been any falling off
in real-estate prices. In my State, as
everywhere else, business is halting aud
detected but will any zealot for whis-
key and whiskey civilization and pros
perity say that the 1000, 600 Of work
ipgmen now out Of employment in the
United States are thus placed because of
the stoppage or reduction Of their
whiskey ration | think it is high
time for men to take up their slate
pencils and figure out what boom y"
in dollars and cents is worth to any
people that has to be secured by the
degradation and rum of large pro-
portion Of the population who contri-
butte the blood-money that enters
into the bank balances. In the esti-
nation Of some Of our latter-day
economists the redemption of imm0r-
tai souls from british enslavement to
strong drink is entirely too dear if it is
secured by a sinking in trade quota
tons or an inconvenient hindrance to
the downward plunge to perdition.
temporal and eternal, by closing the
corner doggery. This is the stupid
logic Of sin, defiant, hardened, and
desperately selfish. We must give up
such public spirit and political ecOnO-
my as this, or stand by and see our
Christian civilization thwarted and dis
graced. Yours truly,
A. Ii. CoLQUITT.
Upon this subject let me say that |
have three objections to the revenue
argument as used against local option ::
First. 1t is iallacious. 1t cannot be
that permanent prosperity will follow
from anything which encourages drink
ing, and revenue must depend upon
prosperity.
Second. 1t is deceptive. The saloons
do not pay the taxes. They only COL
lect them. They are tax.gatherers-
not taxpayers. The saloon-keeper
does not do anything to increase the
wealth of a community. The saloons
of Virginia collect some ten millions
Of dollars yearly from the people and
pay to the State less than third OF a
million. 1t is bad fnanciering to en-
courage our people to squander ten
million that the State may get one
thirtieth of the amount.
Third. 1t is unworthy Of the occa-
sion. The saloon is under indictment
before the people; it is charged with
encouraging drunkenness. and thereby
injuring the health, happiness, and
morals of the people it is charged with
being the occasion, II not the cause, oil
brawls, riots, and of murder : 1t is
charged with enticing our young men
from the path Of virtue, of blighting the
brilliancy Of intellect, robbing labor Of
its vigor and thrift, and filling the land
with sorrowing parents, wronged wives,
and neglected children; it is charged
with exerting an influence in politics
which is already corruptipg and threat
ems to become ruinous; it is indicted
as the abettor of crime and vice Of every
kind. Is it any answer to such an in
dictment to say it pays money into the
Treasury Of the State or to the pockets
Of individuals Is not the argument
utterly unworthy Of the occasion:
Very respectfully,
WILLIAM W. SMITH.