Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-08-19

was too late for report In this issue, as our
paper was put to press about the time that
meeting was held.
ABLE TEMPERANCE ADDRESS BY
| REV. RUMSEY SMITHSON.
On last Wednesday night, the 18th inst. Rev.
Rumsey Smithson delivered in the Temper
ance Tabernacle speech in favor of rrohibi'
ton of the liquor traffic Of two hours duration
| which was able and methodical, filled COM
pactly with strong arguments and stats tical
facts In support Of the propositions he main
tained with great earnestness. We have space
merely for a comparatively brief notice of the
points he made and the arguments he advance
| ed.
The meeting on this occasion was opened
with an appropriate prayer by Rev j. D. Dom
/ ovan, Pastor OF the u. B. church of this city.
| Rev. J. T. Williams, Pastor of the M. K.
| church South of this city introduced the speak
er.
| Mr.. Smithson said that his recol was known
here as he had been pastor here, some years
since. of the M. E. church South, and had Ia.
bored in this great struggle between right and
| wrong, In which there can be no such thing as
neutrality-suspicious. don't count for anything.
He would notice some points. AS the first
thing to be done In the erection of a tullding
is to remove the rubbish and lay the founda-
tion, he would first remove the rubbish on this
great question which consists of the alleged
! objections to the prohibitory movement.
They say 1t is a sumptuary law, and for that
| reason should not be adopted.
A sumptuary law prescribes what you shall
wear. what you shall eat, what furniture you
shall have. The prohibitory law does not pre-
scribe what you shall eat or drink or wear,
but only prohibits the sale OF spirituous liQ-
| uors. But we have some sumptuary laws. If
q man is caught wearing woman's apparel or
woman, mans apparel. they are punished for
| it. If man sells tainted meat he violates the
| law and is punished. If 1t be right and lawful
| to prohibit the sale of tainted meat, why would
it not be so to prohibit the saleo liquid poison
| which brings trouble, woe, wretchedness and
death in Its train?
Remember, it is only the sale that is pro-
hibited. 1t does not prohibit the drinking of
| 1t.
The second objection is, that 1t violates per-
sonal liberty.
It does not do this any more than the license
does. Your personal liberty is not free-you
are not allowed to sell, unless you pay for the
privilege. This is as much a violation of per-
sonal liberty as the total prohibition would be.
SO far as the principle Is concerned-there is
not whit difference.
The third objection is that it is unconstitu-
tional. This is as old as the hills and utterly
absurd and 1t is astonishing that any one
should so claim. It's constitutionality has
been recognized by every department of both
the Federal and State Governments.
In 1874 Congress passed a resolution recon-.
mending the states to pass prohibitory laws.
Alaska, one sixth of the area of the U. s., Is
covered by Federal prohibition. The Supreme
Court of the U. s., has from time to time decid-
ed 1t to be constitutional. Chief Justice fancy
decided that 1t was constitutional to prohibit
1t altogether. if deemed proper TO do so-a de-
cisi0n never called in question. The Supreme
Courts of the States have decided in like man.
ner. The Legislatures Of the States have pass
ed prohibitory laws-the members of which
all take an oath not to violate the constitu
ton. Our own State Legislature, by the votes
of both the Democratic and Republican par
ties, passed the local-option law. These things
prove it to be constitutional and not In con.
flict with personal liberty. Gov. Lee signed
the bill.
The fourth OBJ, ection is. that prohibition
won't prohibit. After trying and testing it in
Maine for many years. they incorporated 1t
into their constitution. Are the people OF
Maine fools? Do they not know whether it
prohibits or not9 II it did not, would they
have incorporated 1t into their constitution?
Prohibition prohibits In Iowa and Kansas. In
reference to its working in Kansas we have
had lies circulated-not only in detail. but
wholesale. In Atchison, Kansas, they dis
charged the policemen because they hal no
further use for them. Kansas has 1,690,C coo
prosperous people, with not one>tenth the liq-
uor used as before prohibition. It's favorable
operation Is similar in Iowa.
He then gave statements, fortified by official
authority. of Its working in Maryland and in
some Of the towns and counties of this State.
In Loudoun and Frederick counties In this
State there is no Illicit sale, and In Winches-
ter under prohibition the sales of the retail
merchants were IS, 900 more in year than be-
fore.
The fifth objection Is the loss of revenue
Where the license puts one dollar In the treas
ury. 1t takes ten out to pay the expenses OF
crime, insanity, and pauperism caused by the
sale of spirits. The greatest objection to rails
ing revenue In this way is that 1t is blood
money. Why not take 1t from the devil him
self?
When you consider that 1884 900 COO are spent
at aaloons by laboring people, can you wonder
that there is a cry Of hard times? 1t is a curse
of the community, commercially and socially.
1t is a curse to your homes. Some say sit
wont hurt you II you let 1t alone" tits lie
If you think that term too harsh you can tone
1t down. 1t hurts thousands who let it alone.
through the acts Of those who DO not let 1t
| alone. Does 1t not hurt the mothers, the
wives. thu sisters. the children, though thsy let
| 1t alone?
High licen Sc. be maintained. was no mitiga-
ton of the evil-that 1t would not diminish
| the amount OF drin king.
REV. IEHN HI. Hector ATE TH 4 TEHI,