Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-06-17
Sumptuary Laws.
" the Editer "a the DispatcA.

10 the Editsr OF the Dispatch:
As we are going to have a presidential
election this fall, and several candidates and
platforms OF principles Will be presented for
our choice, il Is a. well that our people shall
be furnished with the means OF understand
ing those platforms. Permit me TO say,
with oil personal respect. that your detinl-
ton Of sumptuary laws" AZ given ir your
issue OF Saturday, June 10th, is open to
serious exception, aud IL cearadicted by
the history OF those laws and the great pub
lie discussions concerning them In Europe
aud America Your own issues OF March
2Sth and April IL, 1886, gave the needed
light on this subject. Sumptuary laws derive
their name from the Latin noun "SumptaS,"
which means change, expense, cost, costll-
ness, luxury, and more directly from tue
adjective SumpturdittS," which means OF or
relating to cost, expense, luxury, &c. There
fore sumptuary laws are enactments OF the
law-maklng power in q State intended TO
restrict and regulate a maa's expense and
mode OF living as 10 furniture, dress, food.
or other things in hem,eiueS innocent, but
which il INDUCED In 10 excess amount to
htTuru Laws OF this nature have been
tried experimeni2lly both In ancient and
modern times. They have always been
reckoned as belonging to that class OF legis-
lation which forbids offences against pubic
econonu, and which embraces great variety
OF penal enaclments such as laws sgainst
nulsauces, distractions TO highways and
rivers, lotteries, gaming. houses, unlicensed
stage plays, idleness, and yassbondism, &c.
Blackstone Comment, Book ~. PIP. 161-l71.
But YOU will not find any instance IN any
law-work OF recognized authority in which a
law forbidding or restricting the manufac-
ture, sale, or use OF any article considered as
poisonous IN its nature and as deleterious to
health, sanity, and morals has been reckoned
under the head OF Senptudry tao. such
laws stand upon an entirely different foun-
datiOn irem sumptuary laws.
Sumptuary laws bare given rise to extended
discussion as TO their soundncss and expe-
diency. II is remarkable that Aontesquen
In bis esprit des Lois" has argued thet
h1ury is necessary la mossrchies such ss
France, but ruinous in dcmocracies such as
Holland, and therefore that sumptuary laws
ought not to exist in . monarchy, hut ought
TO be enacted and rigidIy enforced IN demo.
cratic country. The Democratic party OF the
United States claim to be mach wiser than
Montesquien, and perhaps zee are.
II the plank having form as follows, ave
oppose sumptuary laws which Ncx the eitl-
zen and interfere with individual liberty"
be construed dlscreetly and according to the
real historic meaning OF sdch laws, we have
no objection 10 the plank. The argument OF
principle and experience has been against
such laws, whether In monarchy, aristocracy,
or democracy.
The Democratic party In It's convention at
st. Louis adopted In very vague and general
terms the platform Of 1854, which con-
tains the 4 above plank. But n the
Democratic party takes the ground IN
the coming canvass OF this summer and fall
that this plank requires us 10 oppose
and antsgooize the late decision Of the SUI
prene Court OF the Uniied States, which was
10 the effect that laws forbIdding the manu-
facture and sale OF intoxicating liquors for
purposes OF beverage were constitutional
and sound laws, and must be enforced by
every department OF government. then YOU
may look oct for \ split which will be wide
enough 10 defeat the party causing IT, There
are several States whose votes will be close
In any event. We baye no strength 10
threw away. 1 have no idea that Grover
Cleyelapd has any sympathy with the oppo-
nents Of thai Supreme Court decision.
Truth.
We quoted our first definition OF sumptu.
airy laws from Webster. who OF course tells
all that "Trlih" repeats as TO its e,ymology.
Our second and third definitions were our
own. and we consIdesd them exceilent--as