Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-03-28
An Interesting Question.
RICHMOND, March Is, lSS

To the Editor of the Dispatch:
notice with pleasure in your daily
Issues the great interest manifested by
the public in the all-absorbing question
of local option. OF course, like all
other issues, it has two sides. The
anti. prohibitionist would have US be-
lieve that prohibition does not pro-
hibit-that temperance, like all other
virtues, is the result Of moral suasion
and can never be accomplished by the
law.making power. The friends of tenn
perance, on the contrary, claim that
there is no law that can prohibit
in the strict sense as long .ss
man possesses free will that
laws are not expected to entirely pro-
hibit. but that the same results may
be obtained as in the case of steal
ing, etc. Now, Mr.. Editor, perhaps we
might gain some light on this subject
by inquiring into the origin of this pas
sion for strong drink. A child of eight
or ten years cannot bear the taste of
whiskey; one mouthful Of the pure ar
ticle would in many cases strangle an
infant. 1t is evident, therefore, that
this thirst of SO many for ardent spirits
is not a natural craving but is a crea-
ture of their own make. Now, here is
the main problem. We have heard of
great sinners becoming saints we have
heard of persons having a disgust for
a certain kind of food, a certain
kind of medicine, later on relish
ing the same; but such results
have never been accomplished without
a severe struggle, followed by a victory
over nature. A severe struggle, fol-
lowed by victory over nature-the
hero afterwards to become the victim
of intemperance What could have
prompted our hero to thus oyercOmc
self? Oh L., nothing but an innocent de-
sire of amusement. Thus it is from
little fountains great rivers spring.
When afterwards called upon by duty
to make the opposite sacrifice, his
heroism has lett him; he rallies, but
in vain, and is borne down by the tor
rent of his passions to add another
name to the list of unhappy victims,
whose god is drink. Here is, sup
pose, the cause that in the majority Of
cases leads to intemperance
My observations have led me to the
conclusion that young men, as to dis
position, may be divided into three
classes The first find their delight in
reading and other literary and artistic
occupations; the second are so COM
pletely enamored of the fair sex that
they find no difficulty in spending whole
DAYS of leisure; while the third and
BY far the most numerous class, even
when children, cannot be kept in the
house, and very naturally desire amuse-
ment of a different kind. With this
latter class the weekdays pass away
very smoothly, but the Sunday at
length comes-the day Of rest. They
90 to church perhaps like the others,
and at the conclusion Of the services,
which is usually about II, they 50
home. And now comes the difficulty.
1t is not to be expected that these
young men, who while children could
not be kept at home, will spend the
whole evening in reading the Bible.
They want some kind of amusement,
and where can they find it? Only in the
bar-rooms. But the bar-keeper wants
to be paid for this amusement, and it
requires only few hours spent in these
places to rid the young man OF his
weeks hard earnings. 1t is now easy
to conjecture the differences which
wish to draw from the foregoing.
Our legislators may make laws, our
temperance advocates may waste time
and money in the cause Of temperance
| repeat it, it is utter folly to offer this
young blood the alternatives of idleness
or reading the Bible. remember that
while at school we were forbidden to
play a game of ball or croquette on
Sunday evening from the fear Of giving
scandal to the neighbors.
" Woe to him that giyeth scandal y;
yea, rather woe to that society which,
while discerning the mote, cannot see
the beam, and which is as yet unaware
of the fact that " in the multitude OF
words there shall not lack sin." in
sist, then, that, even granting the im-
propriety of such games on Sunday,
the question before rs is not one Of
choice, but the alternatives of two evils,
and which is the greater let the public
decide.
And now, Mr.. Editor, if | am not
already trespassing, you will please ac-
cord me your kind indulgence for few
moments longer, and | will retire. |
would conclude, then, with the remark,
that as long as we visit these outward
Sunday amusements with our accus-
toned stamp of condemnation, we are
even, though unintentionally, encour-
aging these bar practices but encour-
age this former, as well as all other
classes of honorable amusement, while
redoubling our efforts against the latter
give this third class likewise an amuse-
ment in which it can honorably engage
and with the law in our favor | verify
believe We have given the severest pos
sible blow to intemperance.
PRACTICAL.