Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-21

ibis sort Of legislation Is foreign 70 the
traditional policy Of tho State. Now,
We demand proof to sustain the nsccs'
sity Of this change. Are virginians
worse drunkards now than heretofore ?
Is drunkenness increasing to such an
extent that there is q necessity to con-
vert the State into an inebriate asylum
That must be your ground for this
puritanic legislation. We deny it.
Herein this county there is less OF
abusive drinking than at any time since
the close Of the war. The students at
our University are sober and quiet to a
degree wonderful as compared with
ante-war times. The town and sur
roundings, of 5000 inhabitants, have
not two confirmed drunkards.
NJ. Woods, Esq, the Cemmonwealth's
attorney for the past twelve or fifteen
years, asserts that he annually tries
from twenty-five to fifty cases Of felo-
MES that out Of these only from one
to two per annum are traceable to
improper use of liquor. These are
facts and not sentimental gush about
brain, muscle, and Notwithstanding
drink, about trembling mothers, anx-
ious fathers, ruin-tempting liquor
traffic. That sort Of talk We have heard
ad nauSeam. Appeals to passions
based on improved premises are not ar
guments.
Have we seen the evils Of liquor
traffic? Yes; candidly, we have seen
aud do see, and expect TO see, evils from
the abuse of this as we'll as every other
good. IL results from the imperfect
nature Of man. We have read history,
as you presume. There we find that
10000 Of people were sacrificed in
the crusades to wrest the sepulchre Of
Christ from the hands OF the inlidels.
There we see the inquiSition instituted
first II 1903 and running up to the last
auto ia fem 1871. The rack, faggot,
and all conceivable tortures were at
work for all this time. Under
this priests and mobiles exter-
minated the Albigenses and Wal
denses from the foot Of the Alps
TO the Pyrenees at the city OF BE.
Tiers putting to death all-friends and
foes-C0, 900 inhabitants, not one es-
Gaping to tell the fate Of the city. There
We have read Of the thirty years war
devastating the country, producing
hunger, famine, and all the horrors in
cident to barbarous warfare. There
we have learned Of the prosecutions,
massacres, and horrors under both
Catholic and Protestant reigns in Eng
land. Can greater evils and heart-rend-
ing pictures lie drawn? Were there
fears, tears, mental and bodily tortures
10 man, woman, and child ever exceed
ing these? What the oauses Religion I.
You, if then living. would have pro-
hibi,ed, uprooted, and totally abstained
from religion? Logically you must. But
you would have failed. Why? Because
it is the nature Of man to worship some
thing and formulate creeds, which be-
comes " hat we call religion. You equally
fail in Graduating the natural craving
for stimulants. There are false rel.
gions ard there are defective natures.
Probibitory legislation never edu:ates
fee men, nor will it ever eradicate in
veterate vicious inclinations. NGinrG
eypell0S ftHcd tGmea uSque recUTet-
e. Use the fork for uprootiDg natural
growths they will always come forth
again').
We say your doctrines are against
the good Of the State and the usag es Of
civilization.
The first part you deny; the other
pass by. The State wants, needs, and
calls for people from beyond its bOr-
ders with their capital and muscle to
develop the natural resources Of the
State. These laws, however good you
may deem them, are in such absolute
conflict with the practices and usages
Of all cirilized people with the excep-
ton Of your scattered followers abroad
and portion OF your total-abstinence
States in this country that they are re-
pulsiye, and will keep this immigration
away. 1t is so repulsiye that many
who are here and can get away will
seek homes beyond its territory. Not
a German, Frenchman, and but few
English, will buy homes where occupa-
tioDs, habits, and modes OF life deemed
legitimate elsewhere are to be
circumscribed or even destroyed.
Even that emasculated, half-and-half,
and one.sided thing which you lobbied
through the Legislature will keep them
away. With diminished industries, loss
Of revenue, repulsion Of capital and
population, increased taxes on property
must inevitably result from your sue
cess. In this way we are justified in
the assertion that your doctrines are
antagonistic to the good of the State.
Now, sir, | do not suppose that you
will call for proof that your total absti-
neDce is in oontravention with the
usages Of civilized Governments Of the
world-unless, indeed, you arrogate to
yourself all Of civilization. What
civilized nation on the e-rth upholds and
practices your liquor creed? Name one.
True the Mohammedsn and Buddhists
are your predecessors in prohibiting
the use Of intoxicating drinks, and you
may assert that the Turks act on your
creed but it is significant fact that
these very people, to whom wine and
strong drinks were forbidden, have
ransacked nature in search of the OPT
ates which benumb and Supply the
mind-AGshish and opium. Thus ma
tural wants Of mans nature are sup
piled in spite Of creed or legislation.
OSCAR REIERsOS.
Mr.. Reierson promises more, but OF
course we must see what he writes be-
fore we can decide to publish it.
For the Dispatch.l