Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-18

btirr understood by that word : pace
Of oprn sale o. liquors where any one
can step in and have drink. We
have psrhxps enc hundred places where
The initiated can find LIQUOR, waica
viii he one TO three hundred and eighty
persons. But these are los. vile dsns,
kept by the lowest part Of our forsisn
population. There are not more than
five or six Americans who are suspect
ed Of sciiing drinks. In these places
The liquors. win be kept II very small
qusntity and carefully hidden or kept
in The pocket In hslG-pint OF pini bot
lie. Some times the liquor stands Ia
pitchers upon shelf over q tub SLED
with filthy water and kerosene. When
the cffc,rs are seen, boy. watching
.; the door, viii whistle, and the
pitchers are dumped into the tab; the
kerosens is used to mask the smell OF
The alcohol. Is there any one simple
eD0pgh 10 believe the declaration, by
whoever made. that under such circum-
stances the trade fourishes as much
in Portland in proportion 10 population
ss il does IN New York." We should
think not, indeed but the testimony Is
from a great clond Of witnesses. Ths
Senators and Representatives ~ the
United States Congress from Maine de-
clare The lsv itself, undsra vigorous
enforcement Of its provisions, has
created temperance sentiment which
is marvellous and 10 which opposition
II powerless. Our remarkable temper
sDce reform Of to-day is the legitimate
child Of the Law Fourteen public OIL
GERS, inducing IL. mayor and five ex-
mayors Of Portland. declare that " the
favorable effects Of prohibition are
manifest 10 the most casual observer"
Twelve pastors Of Portland churches
declare - II the trade exists ut al here
it rs carried on with secrecy and caution
IS other unlawful practices. All our
people must agree tina. the benefit oil
this state Of things are obvious ana very
great" Are not these proofs sufficient
10 convince The skeptical:
But gIext use has been made OF the
question Of personal liberty in this cos
test by the advocates Of license. Let
Us have no sumptuary laws, is the cry
let Us lot dictate what man is 70 eat,
drink. o. smell. BE it SO. IL is not SO
proposed. You may buy your meat or
feb IL The market and keep II until IT is
tainted and then eat il. but the law viii
bot allow youi butcher to display II On
his stall IL this state. You may enjoy
The odor Of your tub Of garbage, but
The law viii not allow you to set il on
our front perch 10 rsgale the noses Of
yeur De;ghbors. You may enjoy fast
driving, and on your private track may
drive your sulky to smash, bat the Law
viii not allow you 10 do 50 on TIE ave-
Bues Of tie city. Ii is really amazing
that people cannot or will not see the
difference between what they call stump
tuRry laws. which are really laws Tor
The regulation Of ones personal expen-
dituIes as 10 food. dress. &C., and laws
hich regulate public morals and
manners il things that affect the happi-
ness and safety Of the community. "
Such laws. SAYS Amass Walker 10 his
Science Of Wealth. are not - legislation
to supplement the wisdom Of the H.
dividual or instruct industry. They
become the defence Of the public good.
such laws are no. 8 breach Of personal
rights, but the safeguard Of public
liberty. II there is any habit or prac
tice which brings disease. suffering, and
disorder, which sbridges the power Of
lakpr and the span Of life, which H.
ficts misery upon the innocent and Nd
offending, which entails expense upon
the whole community for the charge Of
psuperism and the punishment Of crime,
there can be no doubt Of the right and
duty Of the people TO protect them
selves, through the power Of their gov
eminent, by the most severe and eff
cent laws that can be devised. To
DENY this is TO deny the validity Of gov
ernment itself This view has been
sustained by the highest legal decisions
IN this country.
Let none falter then In this contest.
The battle is against al evil that threat
ems TO destroy every thing that makes
home and life and society valuable.
Surely in Richmond among right
thinking people, in the churches and
out Of them, there viii be found, when
the day Of trial comes, seven thousand
men with ballots In their hands who
uiH not botr the knee to the Baal q the
hQuoy tr0Fic. ". ". BENNETT.