Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-11

which they are striving will strange
the party. This is the judgment OF the
sanhedrim Of Democracy.
Being thus ruled out, we take an.
other survey. OF necessity We must
look toward the " Friends OF Liberty"
(as the liquor organization, l believe, IS
called, But here again we grasp
nothing verify We must have gotten on
the track of the Irishman's fiea). For
n an election is ruinous to the Demo
cratic party, those bringing 1t about
must in this case also be ruled out. in
your city, if we are correctly informed,
they are doing this very thing.
Here is the result OF our expiora-
tons:
Local.optionists, not Democrats
Liouor. dealers Of Richmond, not
Democrats, because provoking an elec-
ton.
Where are the Democrats?
Only those who favor neither side
must be the Democratic party. Those
who, when the issue comes, shall We
or shall We not grant licenses will say,
We are for the betwcen-measure.
Shades of Caesar what is the betwixt
measure? For this must mark the Demo-
cratic party, according to the logic OF
some. We fail to recognize but two
positions-one favoring the liquor
license. the other opposing it.
We believe in the Democratic party,
but no, in the line that few may de-
sire TO map out-viz., we will make
the rules and you can follow them; we
promise and you act accordingly; when
We see fit to fulfill our promises We
will, and you can be happy; when we
see fit to repudiste them we will, and
YOU may be happy if you can. Such
procedure is calculated to injure more
than anything else.
Another claim is that existing laws
are not executed; hence new ones will
be equally imperative. We do not
pretend to give the true cause, so far
as our Virginia cities are concerned !;
still we do not think we would shoot
far from the mark when we say that
the political power assumed by-or, II
itbe preferred, invested in-the few, has
much to do with this wretched state OF
affairs. To maintain this power they
and their stats (the so-cslled guardians
of our peace and rights connive at
these violations Of the law. Changing
Macaulay little, we might put it thus
"The politicians think it expedient
always to connive at the violation Of
these laws"
Then there is the cry Of failure.
Prohibition does not prohibit. More
LIQUOR is sold in prohibition cities than
before the law was passed. This is
thought to be a poser. So we began to
coeitate again and somehow wound up
at this point. What q noble set of
fellows those Richmond and Baltimore
liouor-dealers are. Just pass local OPP
ton and their business will boom. But
in their generous desire not to increase
the liquor traffic and its results they
organize, write, spend money, and do
every thing in their power to defeat a
law which would advance their interest.
This is philanthropy, we believe, and
certainly new character in which they
are presented.
Failure or success here are two facts
that stand side by side-the liquor
dealers do not wish, are bitterly opposed
to, local-option and prohibition. The
temperance people desire and strongly
advocate them. To brand the laws as
failures is to brand both sides as -,
Again Does Mr.. ELY son pay high
compliment to his constituents Of the
liquor trade when he claims that il we
refuse to make their business legal they
will engage in it illegally:
We do not doubt the fact in the least.
Their creed, judging from their resolu
tons. has been, Do ithonestly if yor
can, but do it any how" Yet, it seem'
hardly fsir for one who seems DESTROYS
Of their favors to " blab it right out. ,
Men are apt to say:
And yonder a physician blaooing
The case Of his patient"
But he seems to intimate that we ha'
better license them than to have then
violate the law. Or, in brief, make
respectable. 1t is not respectable to b
q violator of the law we will give 20
license and confer responsibility upo
you.
Now, We do not make odious com
parsons, and merely wish to illustrate
Thieyery is not respectable neither
murder nor adultery. Men will ste'
and murder and commit adultery; VIII
let them be violators of the La
against these things and lack respects
bility? Why not confer the same b
licenses Horrible and yet equsll
strong % the other. Their delibera
violation, in many places, OF the Law
the present time and the failure hithsr
under existing laws to punish revea
the force We have to meet, and is Il
argument Of arguments in favor Of
nay, dcmanding--strong measures
check this growing and dangerous powe
There is another point regardiI
which many ~ laboring under a mi
take. Men mo are opposed to Il
traffic say We take away their libert.
deprive them of their rights. Let I
look ct this moment. Is liquor-sellir
their right, their liberty? II SO, VIII
can they not enter into it untrau
melledY Has a State or city or town
Government the right to charge a ma
for his natural liberty? Yet we do
under the iicense.law if this be true.
Such, however, is not the case.
h not . natural but an acquired liberty
because granted by some one outside
self. II for certain reasons, suppose
10 BE- good, Q license be refused mar
h that dspriving him Of bis natural lib
ssty2 Certainly not; II is merely RI
fusal to confer any new liberty upo
him. II . liberty which has been con
lsrrsd 10 recognized as injurious to
community and detrimental to the bes
interest Of humanity and Is Withdrawn
b wrong done To the one from whom
~ liberty Is taksns We think not.
Thsn, again Have We the right +
grsst such . liberty; and If 1t has beef
eranted, what Il clearly our duty II