Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-09-24
A Card from the Prohibition Candidate
for Governor.

PULASKI CITY, VA, September q, 1890
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
on behalf OF the Prohibition party q
Virginia. permit me to thank you for your
impartial report OF the proceedings OF
their convention held in Richmond The gu
instant.
We also tender our grateful acknowledge
ments for your kind and courteous ref
erences to us in your editorial OF the Stl
instant, under the caption, "Tannin-
Hides" This treatment convinces US thai
YOU would not do us an intentional wrong
and believing this / beg 10 call your at
tentiOn TO some OF the statements which
this editorial contained, which are calcu.
lated 70 mislead az 10 our position, with
the hope that you will publish same.
You say: THE Prohibitionists cannot
but be the allies OF the Populists and Re
publicans." To this charge we reply We
make no deals, no Illusions" or alliances
either here or in the west We are against
saloons, the traffic i'm intoxicating liquors
and against all political parties who favor
or are silent concerning the business OF
drunkar1-making.
You say: "They would make men good
by law" A greater mistake than this
was never made. We would not make
men good by law" but We would stop
making them mean under the sanction OF
law. You. yourself, favor all laws Tro-
hibitlng men from stealing, gambling.
numbering etc Why, % make them
good by law" Nay, verify. For the very
same reason you favor these laws, ~
favor the prohibition 81 the li1uor ult-
fic the fruitful source OF fOur-iifths OF AL
the crime.
You say: "If they have no ideas 20 al
vance they will substitute words, ana II
they have no words they will manufacture
them This is "a remarkable statement
for words are used to convey ideas Nnch
we manufacture words We must or neces-
sity use them to convey ideas; and we are
In this campaign for the express puroose
OF conveying ideas. We desire to convey
the idea that the liquor traffic Is the zoe
Of civilization, an enemy OF the race, ana
a bar To the Christian religion.
Your case Is given away in your state
ment: 1--WE cannot consent 10 be pdrty
TO any arrange ment for speaking In which
the solid. substantial taX-paying whites
OF Virginia would figure as the allies or
the rum power In this statement you
give the reason for the existence OF IN"
Prohibition party. II the Democratic party
had not allied Itself with the rum power
by the adoption OF the "sumptuary' plank
i'm it's state and national platforms, thrre
would have been no Prohibition party to-
day; and your party would not have
lest the thousands Of solid. substantial
taN-paying whites Of Virginia. who are
determined not 10 figure as the allies or
the rum power
We are not going about as roaring
lion. seeking whom we may devouri' but
il was rather tauntingly stated that Col
. N ~ los %
Popullst candidate for governor In joint
discussion, and that the POpuiist candi-
date mad declined; and. knowing that 81
was tho time for the usual guOernatOrial
circus Of Virginia, We simply proposed 30
furnish our proportion OF the lambs for
the slaughter" but We decline emphatic
ely to be dumb before your shearer
We will meet your nominee for Gov
ernor any day, anywhere, and In gentle
manly, dlgnhed, courteous way discuss
the merits Of our respective platforms,
and ii your nominee can give satisfactory
reasons for the continuation OF the saloon
and its evil results, he Will not only be
entitled TO the plaudits Of a waiting peo-
pie but WIFI receive them
Again thanking you for your kind ref
erences and begging to assure you that
we have 10 other than the best interests
OF our State and nation IN view, / am,
with great respect,
Yours very truly.
J. r. MILLER