Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-02-18
Resolutions I'm Regard 10 Local OPP
fiOn.

At a regular meeting, on the 18th of
February, of the Charlottesville Lodge,
No. 4S2, of the Independent Order Of
Good Templars, an organization con-
sisting Of over $40 members, and the
chief advocate of the cause oftemperance
in the town Of Charlottesville and the
county of Albemarle, the accompanying
preamble and resolutions were unani-
mously adopted:
Whereas in the platforms of princi-
Piles promulgated by both political par
ties for the gubernatorial and general
canvass last year provision was made
for giving to the people of the State Of
Virginia a general iocdLoptioH lar ;
and whereas the action Of the General
Assembly so far has been in the direc-
ton of a partial or restricted local
option law, if any, in that it is proposed
in the wisdom and power Of the General
Assembly to deny to cities or towns
with 5000 or more inhabitants a vote
on the question, and even to deny to
the voters in country districts an ex-
preston of their voice for or against
licensing distilleriss, &C.: therefore
Resolred, That the clause in the
platform of the party now controlling
the government Of Virginia was plainly
for submitting to the people general
local-option law.
Resolred, That any law so restricted
as to exclude cities, diStilleries, &C.,
from its operation cannot be construed
and will not be received by the people
as fulfilling the promise made in the
platform when appealing for their votes.
ReSolred. That any party ignoring,
violating, or dOdging its clear and plain
pledges is not worthy of, and cannot
expect to retain, the confidence and
support of the people.
Resolred, That those members Of
the party now controlling the State
government who sought or accepted
nominations and made the canvass for
election on the party platform, with
the lOcal-option =" plank in it, with
out clearly avowing their determination
to disregard the obligation contained in
said plank, and are now helping in
any way to prevent the passage of q
general locdl-OptiOn lar for the State
Of Virginia, are apparently violating or
neglecting their pledge to the people.
and should hereafter be avoided by the
people when selecting men to represent
them in any position Of honor, trust,
or profit.
Resolred, That it is neither in ac-
cord with the principles Of ancient De-
mocracy, nor becoming those holding
the position of public servants or repre-
sentatives, to deny to the people, or to
withhold from the people, the right to
decide for themselves by their voices
and votes the policy of their own COM
munity and local government.
ResOired, That we respectfully but
earnestly call on our senator and dele
gates to see to it that the pledge Of
their party to give to the people of Vir-
ginia general local-option law" is
promptly and fully redeemed, and we
recommend to them to have cast into
the basket the mutilated and dis
torted thing carried to its passage in the
lower house under the name of local
option bill as being a delusion and
snare, and totally failing to meet or dis
charge their obligation to the people.
ResOlred, That copies of these reso-
lutionS be forwarded TO the Richmond
Dispatch, to the Temperance Advocate,
and to the newspapers in Charlottes-
vile for publication, and also to our
senator and delegates at Richmond.
j. c. MCKENZIE, w. G. I.
Il. II. 4unday, w. S.