Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-28
TO THE EDITOR.
LETTERS on SUBJECTS THAT ACETATE
THE PUBLIC MIND.
Ioeal.ontion Discussed from Several stand
points-Bo,h sides Of the Question
Liqupr on Sunday.

NEST POINT, NAss hhhSH -. AoCH'
To the Editor Of The Dispatch
have read with deep interest the
letter Of Mr.. J. T. Fllyson in the Die
match OF the 2lst instant. The high
regard have always entertained for
Mr.. Ellyson, and the position he oecu-
MES in the religious and political affairs
of your city and Of the State. have in
duced me TO give his views careful con-
sideration.
have no doubt that q reply to my
letter will be furnished from the citi.
zens Of your city, but ] ask you to allow
me to give expression very briefly to
my view Ct the position he occupies. /
shall, in order TO be brief, not elaborate,
but merely state my position.
desire TO quote clause in Mr.. Ely
sons article because il has an important
bearing upon what be says and what
shall say. lie says; - That the use OF
liquor in any form is dangerous, and It's
Incorporate indulgence has been the pro-
life source Of injury to individual and to
the State, none will deny"
Now, the burden OF Mr.. Ellyson's
objection is that prohibition does not
prohibit" l. not that the fault OF the
enforcement Of the Law rather than OF
the law itself 7 Would Mr.. Ellyson re-
peal the law against murder, thieving,
&c. because prohibition does not
prohibit -? Does Mr.. Ellyson mean TO
tell the world that the officials and the
people Of his city will allow State
law to be violated with impunity:
is not the fact that the liquor interest
does not propose to, and boasts that 1t
will not, observe the law an additional
reason Why We should throttle IT q?
Mr.. Ellyson presents an array Of
alleged facts going to show that pro
hibition does not prohibit" There are
abundant statistics TO support an 0ppo-
site view, but I cannot give them now.
only wish to say in this connection
that Mr.. Ellyson must excuse me for
questioning his information because OF
fact that is patent. OF course the in
former who says so many saloons exist
in his city, which has law prohibiting
saloons, must speak from personal
knowledge. Otherwise his testimony
is yalueless. Now can you believe a
man, who. according to his own admis-
sion. knows Of siJty sdl0oRS--in other
words Of sixty constant, blatant viola
tions Of law-who fails 10 report them
foy such rotation Mr.. Ellyson quotes
DR.. Howard Crosby to sustain his
statement. ! will not 60 so far from
home. ] will refer him to hundred
ministers Of his own denomination, and
to the editors Of the paper Of which he
is business manager, who DO not agree
with him.
Mr.. Ellyson's panacea for the evils
be admits is high license" Mr..
Ellyson will excuse ore for wondering
wby. as Oh able member Of the Nlr-
GINA Senate. he neglected to make an
effort to provide the remedy he now
advocates.
But aside from this, Mr.. EllysOn's
position legitimately stated is this
The lquor traffic is " dangerous "
Is II pioiluC SOhiNt Va HJH'y w iiNi-
vidual and State Therefore the State
will suppress it by encouraging it. She
will make a danger and an injury pro-
fitable by deriving revenue from 1t.
She will encourage q business that fur
nishes this danger and tempts 70 this
injury by making it respectable, by
enabling il 70 become more attractive,
and therefore more dangerous bytdktng
II into pG,tRUshp by sharing an its
profits.
In conclusion, | desire to say, with
no disrespect for Mr.. Ellyson, for
whom have a high regard, that his
letter panied me very much. ! cannot
but regard it as a fearful responsibility
for q man who occupies the position
Mr. Ellyson occupies to step into the
arena as the opponent Of movement
that has for its object the suppression
Of business that is the greatest obsta-
Gle in the progress Of morality and
Christianity and #, as Mr.. Ellyson
claims, politics Is TO be drawn into this
question, the Democratic party will
lind Just as much danger in IT'S path IN
espousing the cause Of the liquor
interest as Mr.. Ellyson seems
TO think it ought to do) as in
siding with the party of Temperance
reform. /. +. Is.