Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-28
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Icau VII NOHuay thV --u, "PPN"'o
somewhat elaborate article. under the
signature OF our respected State Senator,
j. Taylor Ellyson, Esq, in which he
seeks to influence the votes of the peo-
pie of Richmond in favor Of the licens-
ing Of the sale Of intoxicating liquors
within her bounds.
AS this has become an intensely prac-
teal and interesting question presume
that as faithful and impartial journalists
you are willing to give your readers tho
fullest opportunity to inform them-
selves on both sides Of the question.
Let me say, then, that on the question,
docs prohibition prohibit? Mr..
Ellyson's statistics are very slender
and unsatisfactory, both in quantity and
quality. The contrary Of his views as
to cities will be found established by a
great abundance Of facts in Maine, YER
mont, Kansas, and Iowa. AS to Maine,
where prohibition commenced many
years ago, the very same sneer-
ing outcries were made by liquor
dealers and drinkers that we hear
so constantly now-viz., that prohl-
bition did not prohibit, and that there
was more drinking of Intoxicating Ii
ouors in Maine than before the law was
passed. But the stubborn facts Of the
case have been fully brought out, and
have very effectually demolished these
sneers. 1t has been proved that in
Maine the jails, pooIhouses, peniten-
tiaries, State prisons, hospitals, and
lunatic asylums have been to large
extent emptied by the benign operation
of the law. Hon. Neal Dow is wit
ness whose honesty and intelligence
viii not be disputed; and although it
was at one time common to call him a
fanatic, yet am happy to say fanatics
of his type are becoming so numerous
all over our land that they are proba-
bly, o majority, and even in Virginia
they have had numbers and influence
enough to induce our Legislature to
enact local-option " law. Mr.. Dow,
in commenting on all the statistical light
concerning Maine and her law, says:
"The rural districts and most of the
towns are free from the traffic, while
in The cities it is under the ban."
There is the truth. The ban Of legal
condemnation is upon this curse even in
the cities of Maine, and every man who
illicitly and stealthily engages in it is a
criminal in the eye of the law and in
the eye of all aw-abiding citizens.
Does Senator Ellyson mean seriously
to tell us that if the voters of Rich
mond vote against licensing the sale Of
intoxicating liquors and thereby the
act of selling them in this city will be.
come a crime and disgraceful, as all
crime is disgraceful, nevertheless the
sale will 60 on, and go on in greater
amount than before? If he does, |
think he does signal injustice to our
Mayor, our Police Justice, our Chief of
Police, our whole police force, our.
courts. our Commonwealth Attorney,
our grand juries, and Of all our citizens
who respect the law and intend to put
down a disgraceful and illegal nuisance.
And vet such seems to be the fair in
ference from his premises for he tells
us that in the cities prohibition by taw
will not prohibit, and gives US statistics,
attempting to show that in Des Moines,
Iowa, with population Of $4,000,
there were 60 saloons before prohi-
bition and $50 saloons after prohibit
ton; and in Dubuque, with q popula-
ton Of $4,000, there were ia saloons
before prohibition and l43 after prohi-
bition Such are the accounts that
hquor-sellers are getting up, and which
seem to have deceived even our worthy
Senator himself. Can any unpreju-
diced observer believe such accounts?
To believe them would be to disgrace
every law officer, court, policeman, and
citizen Of those towns. 1t is perfectly
possible that as many as two hum
bred and fifty wretched holes where
q Jug Of whiskey was surreptitiously
passed round to men, each Of whom
looked over his shoulder before he put
the jug to bis mouth, may have been
seen in Des Moines after prohibition,
but to call these miserable little dens of
stealthy iniquity by the digniaed name
of Saloons" or even "bar-rooms,"
is to put disgrace on the law and on oil
who are bound to enforce it.
As to what Senator Ellyson says
about Rev. Howard Crosby, it would
have been better TO have left it unsaid.
II is thought by many that that gentle.
mans views on tho whole subject Of
temperance are below the safe standard.
His opinions have been openly and ef-
fectually antagonized 10 many regions.
Now lot me give some statements
that may be relied on Senator Nc
Farland, Of Kansas, says: " The papers
outside Of our State say that prohibi-
ton with us u . failure. ! live In
Kansas and kxor that II Is q success.