Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-04-25
ahoy, breaker. Ahead

of the prime of my life in Lees army
in defence Of Richmond, the city became
an acquaintance which has ever since
been cherished, and the prosperity OF
which have as gladly hailed as | would
that Of my native town.
A question of vast import as to local
government has been precipitated upon
your citizens, and, if we may judge
Of the magnitude OF the contest and the
snimus of the parties engaged in 1t
from the tone Of the Richmond press,
ore would think that political Pando-
ra's box had been opened and all its con-
tents poured out on devoted Richmond.
Yes, Richmond, just emerging from the
ashes and devastation Of war and
bounding forward in the great race
Of American cities with the elastic
step of a young giant, is to-day suffer-
ing from the fanatical stabs Of her own
children, and is seriously threatened
with a calamity as serious in oil its
multifarious aspects-such as the bitter
feeling aroused between the license "
and "non-license parties, extending
even into the social relations Of its
people ; the prospective transfer Of its
municipal government from its best
people to its worst element, aye even
to those who hate Richmond as the
devil hates heaven-as was that OF its
destruction by the flames.
No one denies the right Of any man
TO refrain from drinking ardent spirits,
and, conversely, to drink if he chooses.
1t is simply a question between every
man and his God, and with which no
other man has any right to interfere.
But, say the temperance people, men
drink 10 excess, cannot restrain their
appetites, bring ruin upon themselves
and families, and become the authors
Of crime and populate the prisons ana
almshouses. This we do not intend
to permit. The question arises,
How will you help it? You an
swer, By closing all the legalized
bar.rooms. All, fatal mistake At
the age Of fifty-Gve, and having been a
close observer of the habits, manners,
and customs Of many different commu-
mites under diverse circumstances, |
never seen prohibition" even under
martial-law or bayonet-rule, pro
hibit.'' During the war, when Rich
mond was patroled by provost guard,
and the sale of intoxicating liquors was
prohibited by the whole power Of
the Confederate Government-when
there was not licensed bar-room open
in the city-any soldier could get a
canteen full Of headache whiskey or
sorghum brandy. Its sale and use
then we're accompanied with all the
evils, aye more than they now are.
Its sale paid no revenue its
quality was far worse than le-
climate whiskey," and its effects
upon the drinker doubtless worse. 1t
was procured, not from houses autho-
med by law to sell and held response
BILE to law for their character, but it
was obtained from the slums Of the
city. The Stun where it was kept vas
approached by little side-gate in some
filthy alley, and the vender was more
often an abandoned female. 1t was a
monarch beyond the power Of law,
civil or military. Every citizen Of
Richmond who was in the city during
the last two years Of the war knows
these statements to be unvarnished.
incontrovertible facts.
Then by stopping license " you
take the proper control Of Law away
from the sale of liquor and place its
control in the hands Of the most dis
reputable and debauched denizens Of
your alleys and brothels.
But" say the no-license 4" peo-
pie, gentlemen will not go to such
places to get spirits" Grant gentle
men do not 60. 1t is an easy matter to
sehd. Besides, most gentlemen who
take "tod " can send to some neigh
boring city and get few gallons a.
short notice. Even your clerks and
Young men, if so disposed, can send for
theirs, and by clubbing together can
have . social drunk every two or three
nights. But your toper-your man so
welded to the use Of alcohol that he
cannot resist its power over him-he is
the man you want to save. lie is not
able to send off for his demiohnfdl.
lie will have to stop. Notso In his con-
dition, unless you can reach and rouse
his dormant moral powers and brace
his will in a correct position, ne will
have his drink, and in his insane desire
for it he will not hesitate to enter the
lawless dens where he can find the
yilest Of all potations. Thus by dis
continuing license you do not protect
single individual from the effects Of
liquor you take from its sale the
wholesome restraints of law and place
it in the hands of the lawless; you do
not protect your young men nor your
gentlemen, but you deprive your city
Of thousands Of dollars Of revenue ;
| you interfere with the regular channels
of legitimate trade and render useless
thousands Of dollars invested in your
midst-all, all without q substantial
benefit.
Ny word for it, the only feasible plan
for Your temperance people to operate
on to stop men from drinking is in moral
suasion, in convincing the victim OF
drink Of its injurious effects, and then
in arousing aud fortifying his will-power
to resist the temptation.
The resort to law TO stop the sale OF
liquor had it's origin in the hotbed OF
"isms the land Of fanaticism. spir-
itualism, and abolitionism-snd among
q people whose ancestors braved the
ocean and welcomed the dangers of an
unknown continent that the wiid-woods
might ring with the anthems OF the
Free" yet who became so intolerant'
almost before the grass grew upon the
graves of their famished comrades, that
| they tortured Quakers, executed
witches, and banished Roger Williams
and Anne Hutchinson.
/ Astemperance purports to be moral
reform, and as ell Gospel ministers
should lead in such reforms, and should
demand of the members OF thsif
churches to lead a, least moral lives,
and rs according to temperance people
l s-.-t.-- . . . kavAv "a ia immoral.