Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-08
FRIDAY.~.....s SEPTEMBER s, 1893.
The Prohibition Platform.

The Prohibition platform was made
not 10 stand upon nor to get in upon
The Prohibitionists do not expect ever
TO be called upon to redeem the pledges
contained in it. They are pretending to
fight for victory, but they have not the
romotost hope that their candidates will
be elected over the Democratic candi'
dates. They take the Democrats and
Republicans or Popufsts to task for not
putting a Prohibition plank into their
platforms, aud 60 80 far as to declare
that al lquor.license laws are uncon-
stitutional- very extrayagant talk. They
declare for temperance legislation; for
the abolition of all unnecessary Offices
for ballot reform; for 4 railroad commits
sion; for immigration from other
States; for economy in public expenses;
for O graluated-income tax; for longer
school terms This last reform is to be
secured by using for school purposes the
"euormous sum OF money now annually
expended 10y the State on account of the
liquor tralic. They say "by the state, "
but they mean, we suppose, en- the
Smte"; bat how the government is to
get hold OF that money we cannot
imagine. Nevertheless, we favor longer
school terms. The public schools can
never be what they ought to be so long
as the present school laws continue in
force.
The Prohibition platform fayors rigid
economy; salaries instead of fees to GER
tain pubic officers; the election Of
United States senators by the people;
oyster legislation, and the proper OBJ
ecryance Of the Sabbath. 1t denounces
combinations, trusts, ETC., etc, and the
ANDERSON election Jaw.
We need not add that the Democratic
party Is in favor Of some of the measu res
named in the Prohibition platform.
And we suppose almost everybody would
he willing to say what it says on tho
silver question-namely, that the circu'
lating medium may rightfully consist OF
gold, silver, and paper.
Again: The Prohibition platform con-
tlins a good many planks, but not
one Of them is an antitobacco plank.
I'm the northern States some Of the
religious bodies will not allow any man
to be preacher who uses tobacco in
any form. The Virginia Prohibitionists
must know, too, that III number OF
States laws have been passed which
forbid all persons to sell to minors cigars,
cheroots, cigarettes, or tobacco in any
form; and the advocates of these anti
tobacco laws make out for their cause 50
good case that the person who reads
;hoir arguments cannot but DC struck
With the force OF them. Indeed, ii the
,ilirmations Of the anti-tobaccoi ties are
pot extravagant, tobacco, in many in
.tances, causes heart-disease, or 'the
tobacco-hoart," and in many ways un
dermines the constitutions of the persons
who habitually use "the weed. We
suppose the Prohibitionists of Virginia
wish to dispose OF the liquor question
first, but we take il for granted that in
due time they will denounce the grow
ers, the users, the sellers, and the manu-
facturers of tobacco in the same vigor-
oug terms which they now apply TO the
manufacturers, the users, and the sellers
oilquor. And then what will become
of Richmond, Danville, Lynchburg,
Farmville, Petersburg, and tho rest of
the cities in Virginia, whose prosperity
is so closely bound up with the trade in
tobacco? Or suppose 'the advocates OF
the rum power" enter the field as the
supporters OF prohibitory tobacco law:
A hint TO the wise is sufficient.