Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-07
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ylRI0US TOPICS DISCUSSED
BY THE PEOPLE.

Issal oessen, Both sides Pfesenifa-ihe
rr,,.eess Qae.,,ss-- D.iineusnt Lands
The Railroad Ba' sc.
10 The Editor Of The Dispateh:
Change and modify names as you
NAV. the effect is the same and so In
tended. Under the plausible pretext
tia. the majority has right to rule.
the sn,i-driukers know that many will
swallow local option that would spit
out prohibition. II under this name a
Law should be adopted, and every coun-
~ in the State should sanction 1t by a
vote. II surely would be the same as
prohibition practically. Itmay be said,
a We merely deny license to SELL no,
to make Who wants to make what
he cannot sell? IL they say, You
can make and sell outside the
State then they cease to be what they
claim---an association OF morality; oil
morality so elevated that they seek 70
execute it by governmental force. IL
All intoxicating liquor be such curse
that a State government IS Jusureu III
SURPRISING its use, surely 1t wonid DE
the height Of inconsistency, much more
against even good morals, to foster OF per-
nit its manufacture and send out to the
neiehboring States to spread that evil
which had been crushed at home. so
phisticate as they may, local option is
but one Of the paths that lead 10 the
total denial Of the use Of distilled or
fermented liquors.
This question is by no means so SIM
ple as this Holy Alliance affect TO
treat it. Whilst it is new question
in this State in this generation, IT mas q
history. From Exeter Hall, England,
filtered through New England; from
thence propagated, with spasmodlc
eruptions, throughout the United
States, its curse and effect can
clearly be seen in several OF the States
which, when dispsssionately considered
demonstrates that it deserves mature
study ere any law be actually passed
by the State Legislature. 1t is not De-
lieyed it has so been considered either
by the masses Of the people or by the
members chosen to the General Assem-
bly. II not, then the latter should
carefully investigate the right, expe-
d;ency. and effect Of framing such
law, and the mode Of its submission TO
o vote.
Whilst it was referred to by the Po-
litical platforms Of both parties In the
late election. il, was in no sense an issue
and in no way discussed or brought to
the notice Of the voters. In the past
we had a funding bill passed without
its having been made popular issue
that created q bitter strife, from which
we have not yet recovered. This pro-
posed local-optiOn law will arouse the
feelings of inherent rights and wrongs
that will surely cast into the shade the
excited strife and bitterness between the
late Funders and Readjusters. 1t so
exhibits its effect in other States hu-
man nature is the same here. The
Templars insist they have right
to the passage of such law
now and at once. 1t is asserted
without such an understanding they
would have set up as third party.
This nav be fairly doubted, for IN that
vay they could have gained nothing
and they knew it. 1t is characteristic
eally shrewd act on their part to now
demand what they could not independ-
entity achieve. Such third party, II
they wantit, would be infinitely prefera-
bic to the total disruption Of all party
affiliations that will surely follow the
enactment of the law now before the
House. Democracy and Republicanism
will count for naught in the face of such
law. The support or opposition
thereto will be the only practical ISSUE
Whilst the leading advocates oithe law IN
the State probably are not parties to such
an object, nor see such result when
their vision is who'll absorbed by their
one idea of liquor extinction, yet may
il not be, at the foundation, we'll
concocted scheme by Republican lead
ers to break up the "Solid South
The binding effects Of the bitterly par
tisan discussion Of such peculiar per-
sonal question as this sumptuary mea-
sure was recently seen i'll Fulton county,
Ga, where, it was asserted, had the
late presidential election taken place
about that time, the eighty-thousand'
Observation-Disclosures Of Georgia
would have voted for the temperance can
didate in preference to the Democratic
one.
The Republican politician is not slow
10 seize the weak points OF humanity
utilize them, and stride in Triumphant
power through the skilful use OF ianati
cism in any form.
II these lecturipg apostles Of simple
water who visit us from the pure-mo
rality regions Of the North and Yves
TO elevate the South by clarifying wa
ter and matchmaking indiseriminately
all liquors, from sweet cider to Jersey
lightning, are net systematically EN-
ployed to break up our political solidl
ty, then it is an unprecedented neglec
by the northern leaders not to utilize I
potent agent to accomplish desired
end. Whether this question be thu
thrust on us or not, the result viii
surely be the same. Let the legislator,
intelligently inquire into and examln
the principles underlying this question
before they attempt to formulate bill
The bill now pending would afford
good harvest for lawyers, immense la
Dor to courts, and liberal Distribution
Of shekels to litigants to ascertain 1t
true meaning, scope, and effect.
OSCAR REIERsON.
Charlottesville, Va, Jan. q, 1886