Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-21
TO THE EDITOR.
A NUMBER OF LETTERS ON TOPICS OF
PUBLIC INTEREST.
The Iiquor-Ken Reply to Certain Clergy.
men-The Blair Bill-The Example
Of France, &C.



reverend gentlemen whose experiences,
facts. and beliefs are presented for the
guidance Of the public in deciding as
10 The merits Of local option---viz. !:
Rev. William II. Christian. Rev. Johu
Bacon Crenshaw, Rev. j. William
Jones, Rev. John Pollard, aud Rev.
William p. Wright. Ipropose to show
that these experiences, facts, and be-
liefs are purely theoretical and entirely
erroneous.
First. Rev. William II. Christian
says: " How will the State make mp
Cor her revenue lost by this law? Less
revenue will be needed"
In the Dispatch OF the 18th instant
The Second Auditor gives hopeful view
as to the future of the public debt of
Virginia. and bis position is fortified by
the resolution Of the liquors-dealers OF
Richmond to pay their taxes in money.
IL needs now only unity among our
people TO utterly kill the " cut-worm Of
the Treasury Patriotism as well as
self.interest so maniiestly points to such
united policy on the part ofour citizens
that wemay consider it an accomplished
fact. All that is now necessary is for
the legislature to fix q time when
funding urder the Riddleberger bill
shall cease, and then we may hope that
the debt question will be forever elimi-
nsied from oar State politics.
But, is it true that less revenue will
be needed" ~ Tho advocates Of local
option mean by this that crime and
pauperism will be diminished by this
ncw-dispensation dogma. | will expose
this fsllacy Of our new-school politi-
clans in another article. In the mean
time let US make a brief abstract OF
our financial condition.
In the First Auditors annual report
for 1854 and 1885, Table No. 20, page
5, the total assessments foot up $500
$50. The assessments for 1885 liable
No. 4G) is not complete, but we may
conclude that the amount reached,
S2,550,OO0, is the amount which
we may rely on as our future annual
receipts. Now turn to Table No. 2,
page 5, and we learn that the total
amount Of warrants issued during the
fiscal year ending September so, 1884,
was $685., 2I2.43, the expenditures
Of that year being 1888, 6G0.42 more
than the total assessment for the same
year. Table No, p, page 6, shows the
amount Of warrants issued during the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1885,
to be s2.931. 9O8. This is notable de-
crease in the expenditures Of the pre-
ceding year, but it is still about $780,
900 more than the assessments for
the same scar. Does this look as if we
shall need less revenue:
Now. just at the time when we have
reasonable hope Of taking the debt
question out OF politics-when we are
gradually bringing our annual eXpendi-
lures within the limits Of our annual
receipts-a purely religious question is
forced into the political arena, and we
are gravely asked to abolish one of our
most prolific resources of revenue, all
to crafty the foolish idea that because
some people drink too much nobody
else is to drink at all, aptly illustrated
in the old couplet-
"should Incorporate Peter get fuddled
lie must force sober Paul to drink nothing
but wafer"
The liquor assessment for 1884 was
s346, 53l.13, which is about one seventh
of the total taxes collected in the State.
OF this amount Richmond city pays
sci, $3.50. In addition the liquor
dealers Of Richmond paid into the city
treasury last year sl3,S06.95. Mr.
Dickerson asked the Board Of Alder
men 10 increase the teachers pay
Ell per month, but was told that the
city's finances would not Justify it.
Adopt local option and next year the
pay of all the city's employees will be
necessarily reduced to correspond with
the loss occasiOned by the abolition of
the license-taX.
When it is remembered that in Rich
mond there is an annual deficit Of some
$50, 000-that the city needs every
dollar it can possibly get--it does seem
suicidal to strike down business which
paws every year license tax Of nearly
Sl5,O00, without considering the fact
that thousands OF dollars worth Of tax
able III operty will be rendered compare
lively worthless, and many Of our most
hrif.y and reputable citizens will be
orced to leave the city.
Mr.. Christian, true to his name, with
exemplary gentleness, commends to our
favorable consideration one Of the most
humane texts of Scripture" Brethren,
if man be oyertaken in fault, We
which are spiritual, restore such one
in the spirit Of meekness." While
quoting Scripture, it may not be amiss
TO ask our millennial friends to give us
an exposition Of the wonderful allegOry
of lothian, found in the 9th chapter Of
judges, wherein it is recorded that
1.-The trees went forth on a time to
anoint king over them, and they said
unto the vine, Come thou and reign
over us; and the vine said unto them,
Should leave my wine, which cheereth
God and man, and 60 10 be promoted
over the trees?"
There are many Of US who believe in
the doctrine Of free agency in matters
affecting the moral man, and we earn
estly believe that the Church cannot
invade the political arena through its
ministers without soiliDg its garments.
Successful in this effort to control the
habits Of the people by law, we have
every reason 10 suppose that the next
crusade Of the preachers will be against
the use Of tobacco. Already the move.
ment has been mooted in some of the
States, and even now the abandonment
Of tobacco is condition precedent in
some Of our churches to admission to
the ministry. NM.
AEepiy 10 the Rev. q. N. Edwards.
fFor the Dispaieh.l
Your criticism Of the Monticello
g.. .rd Evu,t Crowarc' A Association.