Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-12-15
The Proposed Jicease-Law.
R1caMoSD, December 10, ls3


To he Editor Of he Dispa'c';
inst let me advert for ono moment 70
the hich.lcensc law" bill, drawn by my
self at the request Of some Of our tempe
rance friends. for tho purpose OF submit
ting to the Legislature.
The provisions Of that bill, If enacted
into law. would be in substance as follows:
First. that License for the manufacture
and sale Of alcoholic liquors shall be vested
hereafter only in the courts. second,
that such license shall be issued only. 20
men of good moral character. ACCOMPANIED
by two bondsmen and the certificate
81 twelve respectable citizens. Third.
that license shall be granted only when
the Court shall deem il necessary for ne
accommodation Of the public. Fourth,
tbatthe license fee shall range from SlOO
TO 500. according to the ratio Oh popula,
tion. Fifth. that the revenue thus derived
shall be divided between the city, county,
and State. Sixth, that no liquor sholI De
sold on credit, 10 lncbenates, or minors, on
Sundays or olcc'ion-days. seventh, that
no saloon shall be located beside church
school. hospital, asylum, or college.
Tiobth that the penalties for violating this
law shall DO fine not exceeding So,OOO or
imprisOument not exceeding Twelve
months. Now. slr, looking at Il merely as q
LEGAL document l am prepared TO give my
bSartv approyal. Looking at it, however,
% q remedy for the liquor traffic tan 10
see in it anything 10 commend. tlrst. IL
docs not aim to accomplish the very I'M az
desired-to wit, the extinction OF the
traffic. On the other hand does deliberate
" propose to continue II uuder the san ION
of law. and TO make 1t as respectable Is
any other line OF business. Second. IL
! urceupposes an impossible thlng-an
ahsurdity, indeed-namely,. 70 place
the traffic in the hands of moral and
ranntable mea. Think Of IL. The thing
itself so bad, such a moral pest that II
! shall not be located near church, school,
hospital, or college, and yet placed II the
| hands of moral and reputable men lot
sooth. What an absurdityi Ihird: II
| Grants the right to make drunkards, crimi,
rails. widows, orphans, and imbeclles, and
| then. with the revenue on the traffic, pro-
noses TO build iails and almshOuses and pay
| Inc nolice expenses. What astonishing po
! litical economy that is; what superiatlyt
! idiocvl Sell the right for so much money
and then with the money pay the funera
expenses. object, therefore, to thus law
and TO every license-law, because whatever
its provisions and restrictions, 1t lsiD ltsen
n fallacy. Facts show that license SIMPLY
porpetuates the wrong and makes II II
POSSIBLE more injurious, for the "glldec
! saloon in my judgment Is a greater curse
than the dram-shop. My chief objection
however. is this that license (high OF low
is morally wrong in principle. If the
traffic itself is wrong (about which there
is no dispute), then claim that under NJ
! circumstances of policy, expediency. ,reve
nue., or ANYTHING else, can it be right e
! give il the sanction Of law. II it wer'
proposed to legalize gambling or pros
titution or any other form OF vice
and shame and make them respectable by
law. the moral sense of the community
would be indignant. Why in the one cas'
rather than the other? For myself, shal
| cooperate with the friends Of temperance
inst as far as / possibly can, whether
agree with them or not. But never car
consent by word or ballot of mine TO sane
ton this wrong covered up with the ermint
of Justice and throw around these gate
WAYS of ruin the sanction Of law. The only
remedy is in local option-let the people
license or not license it. The discus
sion creates sentiment and edu
Gates the masses. / am reminded, per
chance, that public sentiment is not
prepared for such measures. Possibly
this may DO true; possibly not. Wha'
moral law ever started with majority on
its side How many were opposed to tn,
Declaration OF Independence at tho Outset
| and prophesied defestl how long would