Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-22
Is the Granting of Licenses n Political
Matter?

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
If it is true that all who may vote
against prohibition are the friends of
hell"; if it is true that " all true
hearted laymen will vote for prohi-
bition if it is true that the conflict
now going on sis between Gods min-
lister on the one side and liquor
dealers on the other" even then, and
at the Iisk Of being classed with
idiots and bables," ] respectfully insist
upon it that the matter Of granting Ii
censes is a political one; and this, it
seems to me, should appear to any un-
preiudiced man who will turn to Web
ster's Dictionary and see the mean
ing Of the word. If the granting
Of licenses to raise money to help
carry on the government OF the State
is not political one, then it is clear that
a tariff to raise money to hel carry on
the Government Of the United States
cannot be so considered. Intelligent
men everywhere must kno " that tariff
is regarded by all civilized nations as
political one. In the very nature OF
the case it is bound to be so considered.
as it is q matter which appertains to
the government Of "a State or nation"
Any question looking to the raising Of
money to help support State. and
which the voters of the State without
regard to their religious belief are call
ed upon to decide at the polls, bears upon
its face that it is q political question.
If, however, prohibition is great
"moral Christian l." question, then |
submit that it is utterly contrary to
Gods word for any such question to be
decided by the pOters Of a temporal
State or kingdom. The discussion of
the matter by ministers in political "
newspapers, and some of them practi
cally taking 1.-THE stump" against the
granting of licenses by the State, serve
to strengthen my belief as to the mat
ter being political one. At any rate,
it gives me pleasure to believe that
there is one great religious newspaper
in Richmond which has not yet
felt called upon to discuss the
question with that bitterness,
and l may say dogmatism, some
ministers have exhibited. Such minis
tiers, feel constrained to say, are not
only wrong, think, in taking such an
active part in political fight, but very
wrong in manifesting such . bitter
spirit on question about which they
are bound to know true Christian gen.
tlemen widely differ. The idea that any
voter who may not think as they do
about the thing is wanting in common
sense, wanting in patriotism, and ut
terly wanting in Christianity, does not
seem to me to manifest either tho
teachings or the spirit "of the meek
and lowly Jesus" Even il l am
correct in this latter opinion, q certain
degree Of charity on my part is due to
those ministers who have expressed
themselves so strongly, for remember
that it is not the custom for any opinion
they may give utterance to in their pull
pits to be questioned or discussed.
The habit Of not being replied to has, |
fear, rather caused some Of them to
think that they are always bound to be
right. The exalted position they oc-
cupy In the estimation Of nearly oil the
people compels me to think that the
grand cause Of "sayiug souls" can
never be advanced BY ministers active.