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

her institutions. and laws, refusing 70
yield TO the solicitations Of her oppo'
nents In the conflict. Why do these
400 continue to oppose the 30O,0oo Oh
their fellow.ci,izens, and thereby i'm
peril the State? To put 1t very mildly,
and on the ground which tho 400 would
prefer it: BY the use Of the coupon
they save about so per cent. on their
dues to the State, while their neighoors
and friends are paying the full dollar.
Is il right that the 400 should reiieve
themselves of the common and loyal
burdens Of the State and society simply
because they have the power
In looking over the names OF those
reported in Senate Document NO. 81
We are persuaded there are many who
have not properly considered the effect
Of their action. They are men in pubic
Observation-Disclosures and wealthy-en-
loving in the fullest extent the protec-
ton OF the laws Of the State and the
advantages of society. They know full
" ell that the State Government cannot
be maintained If their fellow-citizens oil
the 500 600 shall also employ the cou-
pom in their payments to the State.
They know the officers OF the State can
rot 90 duty without pay and SUBJECT
themselves, personally and officially, 10
suits for enormous damages IN the
United States courts in their efforts
TO collect the revenue. They can
not fail TO see that utter pros
tration and anarchy must follow
the course they are forcing on the
State. They must know that they are IN
open and defiant opposition to the Oft
expressed will Of the great body OF the
people of Virginia, and exciting deep
feeling of apprehension Of danger. But
it is said, you cannot induce men to
fortgo the 0dr0utoge Of paying their
dues in a DEPRECATED paper If they have
the power to do So" Probably not;
possibly we may. The situation is so
urgent that every proper means should
be exhausted. Again We look over
The list OF names and find those OF
when il is alleged that they were not
consulted by their agents in bringing
suits against the State. We see the
names Of wealthy men who, when dis
asier comes, must lose tenfold more
than they are avoiding by the coupons.
They see very well that these are times
when property may not indulge in any
disorderly tricks to avoid its just bur-
dens. There are men on the list engsgedin
public business, receiving the patron
age Of the masses, whose success in
life is bound up in the common welfare,
who at other times have responded to
appeals 10 their patriotism, who are not
insensible to the many noble examples
in history Of devotion to country, even
TO the sacrifice Of all property and life
itself They will reflect that the nom
use of the coupon does not involve
loss, but the omission of an advantage,
which is not an eXacting demand in be-
half of the State. viewed in the light Of
all the facts presented. They will
readily see that the individual adj
vantage gained in the coupon is very
poor equivalent for the peace and safety
Of the State: and, moreover, they will
Re inspired with nobility of soul by the
patriotic example proposed in the reso-
lutions Of the Liquor Dealers AsSocia-
ton of the State, who pledge them
selves to pay their license-taxeS in mo-
ney.
An appeal to the patriotism of the
Virginia people never has been made in
vain when they felt the State in danger,
nor DO we believe that the appeal Of
the Governor made in this behalf since
the above was written will fail to meet
with a hearty response from every
vuginian, and that this trouble OF the
coupon will be at once arrested. F.