Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-10
PrOhibitOrY Laws.


To the Editor OF the DiSpdtch:
1t seems to me that the champions
both for and against the local-option
law are striking wide Of the mark. Or
course its advocates attack every point
seemingly vulnerable in their opponents
position, while those who oppose its
adoption undertake to hold too long
line of defence. The latter, instead OF
claiming that it will cause shrinkage in
the States revenue, be impractlcable to
enforce, take the trade out of honest
mems hands and place it in the hands
of those who are dishonest, &C., (all
of which statements may be true,)
why don't they concentrate their
efforts on the broad and firm
basis that the law, if adopted,
will be contrary to and wrong in princi-
ple-the highest ground that can be
taken, and, believe, can be successfully
and triumphantly maintained? All of
our laws, both written and unwritten,
are grounded and based upon that
ancient and unrepealable code--the law
Of God-and where in all that code do
we find one line or one syllable which
relieves man from his free agency or &C.
countability to himself, and hence his
accountability to his God? When the
Creator placed our first parents in the
historical garden, did He not also place
there "the tree Of the knowledge
of good and evil ~? lie expound-
ed unto Adam his law-namely,
II thou eat of the fruit Of this tree
punishment great and severe will come
upon YOU. Did he not leave Adam a
free agent? | command you not to eat,
but if you will eat, bear the conse-
auences. Does any one doubt but that
the all.wise and all-powerful God
could have SO hedged in that tree that
Adam could not even have known Of
its existence, much less eaten of its
fruit? No, He chose rather to leave
him free agent. And so He has left
man under all circumstances. Do the
Lilliputian intellects Of to-day think
they can improve on thu wisdom of their
Maker and their God? And foremost
among the leaders of this improvement
are the very ministers of God and
teachers of His law. | mean no disre-
spect to any Of them, but it seems to
me that they have said among them
selves or to themselves, Our God was
mistaken about this free-agency bust
ness; it may have done very we'll to
begin the world with, but 1t doesn't an
swer in this age, when men will 60 and
drink liquor to such an extent that it
is criminal and deadly sin. We will
enact law which will prerent a man
from committing sins, whether he wants
to be prevented or not. lie shall
be moral, virtuous, and righteous when
we have the power to force him to be
SO. Mr.. Editor, where will this thing
stop? The advocates of this law claim
that liquor is one Of the prime cause:
of crime, misery, and distress in this
country. This may be true. But il
liquor can be legislated out of exist
ence, why can't you enact a law to pre-
vent the manufacture and sale of al
firearms and sharp-edged tools? Why
forsooth? Because men will use then
; to commit crime-shoot and stab ont
r another-and so bring sorrow ant
!, trouble into our homes-especiall.
. the little " six-shooter," which
is carried so secretly and con
D veniently in the hip-pocket O
: the burglar and thief, and used S,
frequently with fatal effect. No homes
or peaceful man has any use for one
and the others should have so sure an
!: easy method Of doing mischief place
beyond their power to obtain it. LIZ
r gislate the thing out Of existence ? Nc
!, sir; drunkenness and crimes conse
=, ouent thereon have doubtless increase
e to fearful extent, and no one deplore
= this fact more than myself. But W
- have laws to keep under this evil-law
:, that are Just and effective if only ca
y ried out. Let every man, ther
h who has the cause Of temperate
/, at heart exert himself to see that thes
. laws are properly and fully execute
o and this great evil will be MATERIAL!
!. if not entirely, eradicated. Also Il
y the ministers and teachers Of God
2 Word work more earnestly and faitl
o fully to educate their countrymen
: the law and will of their God, VII
y does not want forced regenerste, b.
S one who comes Of his own free will IN
q accord, even If he brings along with hi
= some of his imperfections. And men I
- educated will obey the laws of the
country.
e And while on the subject Of Il
= ministers and moral teachers Instes
! Of their going and teaching oil men a.
preaching the kingdom Of God faitl
fully and tirelessly, Is they are bidds
: By. their Lord and Master, and lesvir
: the good results to be worked out b
' Him in Ills own good time, does 1t n,
seem that they are growing impatisl
|. and weary Of their work and wish to SAL
+ | thsvnselvss suv fuvther troubIe mr. lab,