The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-04-21
REV. DR. CAMPBELL TO THE EXCISE
BOARD.

II. j. Ecklotr and II. w. Miller, who
constitute the excise board of this city,
in reply to n sermon preached in the
First Presbyterian Church on Sunday
night, the 18th instant, n synopsis OF
which was published in the Evening
World OF the following Monday.
Absence from home until Saturday
last has prevented my giving the article
the attention it needed until now.
1t is rather an unequal battle, numeri-
cally and physically, in which IL
minister finds himself i'll the arena and
face to face with three so distinguished
citizens as Messrs. Buckner, Eckloff and
Miller. 1t may be we'll to state that for
these gentlemen | have always enter
tanned the kindest feelings, and was sur
prised to see such an article from them
as appeared in TIE TINES. l regret
this because no necessity existed then
for it, and because its character de-
mands q reply, in which it is necessary
to say some things the writer never
would have said under any other circum-
stances. The article is, however, time
ly, as it will enable us to stir this mat
tor a little deeper than could have been
done by one
The presence in tho article Of such
words as respected, ''reverend, ""emi-
nent' and u%''fanatic" become epithets
when used under the circumstances in
which they appear. l cannot handy
epithcts. Epithets are the refuge of
weakness and its confession.
There was evidently IN the minds Of
these gentlemen q lurking suspicion
that their acts were not above criticism,
and hat something must be done to
justify acts already done, and prepare
.lo ,.,-lr &c tha ,H,b1ta f~, -tLa- o.sc
in the same direction. l confess that |
special pleading was more evident nor
tho attempt to shrink a responsibility
more glaring.
The attempt is mad to place the re-
sponsibility for the existence of saloons
in certain places upon the speaker and
his hearers and the good people of Roa-
noke, and they are eXhorted by the
board to take some prac sical steps in
that direction. Gentlemen, may 1 ask
what more practical step can be taken
than the one already taken? Is it a
step,in the direction OF practical things
to call attention to abuses? Is it not
in the same direction to secure IL posi-
Bile from the proper authorities, the re-
lief needed? That the Excise Board
can afford this relief is beyond question.
From the acts of the board thus far,
their power is about as absolute as one
could desire. They have refused Ii
censes to some individuals, others they
granted, and others they have
held under consideration. To say they
withhold licenses is absurd.
did not take the extreme position
that the board should not grant any
licenses. Il understand as we'll as your
selves the ificulty you would o
ter in endeavoring to maintain a posi-
tion like this, even though l do not
consider any place a proper place for a
with its awful var upon
homes and hearts and lives. do, how
ever, maintain that the residence por-
ton of our city and next door to
our postoffice are not proper places TO:
The wives, the children and
the homes Of our city need the proteo-
ton of our officials, and they should
have it. | maintain, moreover, that a
saloon is a dangerous place. 1t Injuries
morals, it lessons values and is 4 menace
to person and life. Since tina sermon
was preached, you have admitted the
truth OF this statement and have re-
fused to license Il saloon in West End.
you have licensed a saloon in East
Roanoke, 4 residence portion OF our
city, where many of our workingmen
and clerks reside, and within fifty yards
of a public school building. Have you
not been guilty OF invidious distinctions,
and-do not the wives and daughters and
children of these citizens need as much
protection as those of others? Gentle
men, YOU have made a great mistake.
You state that n way to help the
board is to appear before it and testify
thu z Tho rlrnn ic mt c,it.b1o WI. L..
this? Has the BOARD not already acted
independently of the wishes OF those
most affected and most interested? A
petition signed by upwards of 200 OF
Roanoke's best citizens was presented
t. you, praying that you would not
license a saloon next door to our post
office, and yet you licensed it in tpite
OF that protest. The mayor Of our city,
as reported IT THE TINES of Wednesday
last, was invited TO appear before 0
and give his advice. lie made his sug-
gestions. lie protested against certain
action. He charged the board with in
consistency and left, stating that he
would not appear before you again. The
board has the power and it must bear
the responsibility.
There seems to have been some OBJ
lection by the board to my opening the
Ponce de Leon Hotel with prayer, be-
cause OF the presence of Il saloon in that
hosiery. | must confess that | do not
remember now that | even knew that a
saloon existed there. | was not asked
TO pray at the opening Of a saloon, and
If was ! do not know whether | would
refuse or not. Rut, now tell me, Broth
ers Miller and Eckloif. don't you think
a saloon needs prayer about as much as
any other place you know of, and ought
they not to have the benefit Of our
prayers?
Not only did offer prayer there. but
more than once have gone into saloons,
and, either over them or in the little