Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-10-07
THIS BLIGHTING CURSE


dcstiuIcs of our country are doing abso-
lutely nothing. On the contrary, they
are in fratcrual league and covenant
with it. drawing their life from its an
righteous cohabitation. They give It per
pemnl lcaee Of power TO grind to death
and he'll its G0,OO0 bodies and souls an
nually in tine United States.
shall irc now he denied the right to
speak in behalf of the cause that lays
nearest the hearts Of every mother and
and wife and sister OF our cOuntry-the
cause OF Prohibition Shall the i'm
Piled threat of the Dispafch that our
people will not hear lis preach on Sun
dav who make prohibition speeches
daring the week" and that eve
will meet uTon the stump men
who viii show up their weakness,
zeal our lips 10 dumhncss ;
VIII the Dispatch give countenance to
the bitter inyectiyes that pursued the
ministry 10y tho minions of the saloon IN
Texas and other states during the heat
ed amendment campaigns of 1881, who
would lash them back to their pull
pits" Shall We as dumb dogs refuse
10 bark, t. "cry aloud and spare not ~
i'm this the final and last conflict against
the last relic Of barbar.sm- the liquor
traffic?
The God we serve calls us TO the con
tict. and We ak and expect naturally to
meet 10 other foes than the friends and
apologlsts and adhcrents OF the lnhuman
trade in intoxicating liquors.
Again. speaking of the "men We will
meet ON the stump and the editors OF
the Nrrh QiStricf, it affords me plea
sure 10 inform the Dispatch that they
are naturally and iDstinctivcly gentle
men and would disdaln to fight an hon
orable antagonist on the line indicated
in ITS editorial. We are condcting this
contest on the line Of the merits and
dement's of the policies OF the contest
ing parties. and gladly relegatc the low
tactics of the "dirt finger 10 the bar
room politician, the basc-bon spawn Of
an ignorant and iuioerant age.
The aliusion in the editorial 20 the
Rev. Samuci Small does not apply 10 the
typical Virginia preacher. His style Is
peculiar 10 himself, anu will stand or fall
ON IT'S own merits.
The reference 10 his controversy with
the hfrVigeucCr was intended evidently
to ave p0iut and force TO the remarks
ueainst clerical interference in the s0lu-
ton Of political problems. but it will
not deter the conscientious preacher
from working on this line Of Christian
du,y
DO not care to notice at length other
vulnerable points IN the editorial TO
which allusion is herein made.
The thought that the civilization Of
the South demand, the perpetuatlon Of
the hqour business. which is substantial
~ the argument of the Diepafch, IL not
m accord with the expressed views f
the wisest political economists and phi
Authropists Of this the most advanced OF
all the ages past The discreet editor Of
the Difp4lc3 could not cnunciate such
doctrines under any other influence than
that q a warm party contest
We beg 10 say to hlm that the civiliza-
ton OF the South Is not a; oil dependent
upon toe continued supremacy Of tho
democratic party. Twice IN the history
Of this country has It failed to keep III
the lead Of great moral and economic
movements. and the si.n5 Of the times
pont 70 D repetition IN the immediate
future OF its mistakes OF thc past. Po-
itical plttics are croitGres Of tae Divine
government. and when they fail 70 ac-
co,up'ish the Holy VIII they are sub
ver,el and agencies more plant sup
plant them. such Is the yerd CT Of his
tory and let the Dfspq'ch profit thereby.
in conclusion. let me mooestlJ repeat
the wa,ning Of the as.ute philosopher OF
the ancient Sanhedrim Of Judea: " If
tins thing be OF man, it will come to
naueht; but il it be Of God, take heed
what you say as touching this thing lest
yoa lie found fighting against COD. ~
u. [. MOOMAw.