Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-02-01
MILLER BILL PASSES.
Inc Senate Approves the Measure BY a
Vote Of Nineteen 10 Eleven.
SPEECH OF SENATOR ECH0LS.
His Discussion Of tho ocaI-Option Law tho
Feature OF the Debate-Exemption from
Jury Scrvice-New Measures.

'ne Miller local-opton bill ten minutes
after the body had been called to order
yesterday morning.
The bill came up under the head OF I'M
finished business. and Mr.. Echols took
the moor in it's favor. making "A speech
that was the feature OF this discussion.
lie said he regretted that the Senator
from Gloucester tMr. Stubbs) was not in
MS seas as that gentleman had on Tues
DAY advanced some propositions 10 which
he wished TO reply lie had hoped that
the Senator from Gloucester would be
with him In his fight. but he was mis-
taken.
At this point Mr.. Echols yielded the
floor to Mr.. Mushbach. who explained
that nc also had intended to speak on the
bill. but in the absence OF the Senator
from Gloucester would not do so.
SENTIMENT IN THE COUNTRY.
Mr.. Echols thon resumed and spoke
vigorously in support OF the bill. lie
claimed that the sentiment OF the rural
communities as to local option could bc
ascertaned by going into those districts.
and agreed with Mr.. Miller. the patron
OF the bill that the same conditions did
not exist in the country that existed in
the cities. The Prohibition party was
banded with the Republicans To defeat
the Democracy. He distinctly dlsclaimed
any intention OF antagonizing the temper
ance cause In Virginia. il had been said
that the passage OF the bill would bring
the temperance question into politics. y
was already in politics. and the Prohihi-
tionistS were using IL 10 the dotrimcnt
Of the Democratic party. II had been
urged that the temperance people were
entitled 10 something from the Democratic
party He would answer that by saying
that the Democratic party had given
the temperance people everything they
had asked.
NEGROES ASSIGNERS.
SIR. Echols caused to bc read from the
clerks desk one OF the petitions presented
20 the Corporation Court Of Stanton
asking that an election be- ordered on local
option. This petition developed that many
OF the petitioners made their marks. Mr..
Echols then analysed the list as 10 poiiti-
cal affiliations and character Of tho mon,
and showed that the majority OF them
We're negroes and Republicans. ana that
tho amount they paid I'm taxes was a
mere bagatclle. The marks on IN" pcti-
ton Were witnessed 10y T.. II. Dilldrd,
whom Mr.. Echos described as the lcal-
ing negro politician in Staunton. and who
was backed up by the most dangerous
Republican leader in the Valley of Nlr-
Finia. Mr. Echols scored the Sam Joncsos
and the Sam Smalls. and Contcndod that
the Prohihitionists in the last campaign
rcsorted to the most dcspiCable moasur
Of dcbauchory ever known I'm politics.
He emphasized In the strongest language
his position that the operations Of the
present law were breeding feeling that
would disrupt the Democratic party, ana
said that this contention was borne ont
Is Temperance men. Mr.. Stubs. the
Senator from Gloucester had kept the
pledge given NJ the Harrisouburc Cony'n-
ton ten years ago. but few others In that
convention had.
NEVER TOOK \ DRINK.
Mr. Washington here rose and soil II
had been charged that only IN" whskey-
drinkers were In favor Of the bill II
had. be- continued. been also stated that
Mr.. Ech0ls was a drinking man. ll'
would ask that gentleman to answer ioi
himself
Mr.. Tchols replied that he had tried
b. keep his personal matters ont or tn
debate as much as possible. lie would
however answer the question. lie Wa
not king man and had never takcr
"A drink In his M. lie then went on t'
describe how outrag"0usly his persona
and political character had been ATTACKED
in his canvass. that, too. AT a time whcI
his duty 10 The party would IDt permit
of his rescn,ing these attacks.
No MORALITY BY FORCE.
SIR. Echols antagonizcl in impressive
terms the proposition that morality cuu!'
be prOpagattd bN force. His p"rOratiDI
was a genuine flight Of cloqucncc an'
drew from the senate a round OF ap
I'm one eternal round men have runs
the changes upon all possible" forms q
government, hoping TO find on, 1T las
fla. ..f.la ~ hat hg1
ought to be. Various theories h2V
chased each other in every variety 81 sue
cessiOn across the grand panorama o
earth's history-now rising To Heaven
and TOW sinking TO hc,l-the hopes Of
fallen world: but in vain, and wors
than In vain. have been all such foIc''
reforms. They remove the outward enc 4
but the inward cause continues Siiii
They cleanse the stream for - moment
but the fountain IS left impure. The
seA the hands on the dial Of the unyerS
and leave the machinery within in dlspr
der. and this Is all that force can eject
Force cannot penetrate the core q, g.
cicty and cure the rOttC1nesS that
there, Force cannot reach the fountain
hend of an true norality-the hWmai
heart-and make ii beat responsive L
high and noble aspirations Force can
not restore life 10 the love OF hbcrjN
7, can only graft living branches on IL
decayed and lifeless trunk. Sometime
Infinitely higher and grandcr than mer
physical force must be at the bottom q
all true morality. From the dawn "i IN
civilization men have been At work on IN
outside of society. They VIII not rcco@
nize that its life and its power am II
freedom and its glory must come frui
Within What Is this reforming ppWt
upon which all true morality must u
based? 1t is strong ana hcalthN pGl
lie sentiment. Its reform begins al IN
very heart OF society ard works itsri
ont upon the surface. Instead OF cutth
down n tyrant here or crushing an abu~
there It cnlightens the und arstandins ct
purines its efforts everywhere. IL max
society all glorious within that she mn
nut on such external form as best be
comes her glorihcd state
NOT FIGHTING TEMPERANCE.
While Mr. Echols was speaking II
space in the Senate chamber aHoteu ,
visitors was crowded many of the Nisitoi
being ladies'. Mr.. EChOlS seemed
recognize that some of the latter Wer
strong temperance advocates. for ne IRE
omently turned To the ladies corner an
emphaslzed the fact that he was no
making a fight on Che temperance moV'
ment
PROTEST FROM THE LADIES.
when Mr. Echols took his seat NJ
Sands presented petition from Mrsi ~
III. Whitehead. superintendent OF legisl'
ton and petition department Tor IN
Woman's Christian Temperance Union .
the state. protesting against the Irpea
or amendment OF the Iocdl-opuoh law
Mrs Whitehead says: ,-.,.,
II most earnestly pray your honordpl
body 10 respect the wishes of the wome
OF Virginia who. though not voters tio
desiring TO be-. are vitality interested ]
all that affects the welfare OF the Con
monwcalth. and who. without power
help themselves In the cities ana toWh
as well as in the country places; al xlous'
wait watching what you Will do HaNIl
found the Democratic party our best an
most sure defence in time OF trouble, "
pray YOU honorable gentlemen OF u
legislature 10 heed our prayer
THE BILL ENGROSSED.
The vote resulted as follows: Ayes
Messrs. Arthur. Barnes. CThomas -, be
~, Echols Fairfax. Flood. Green. Harrlsoi
Hatcher. Hay. Herbert Jones, LovenstSil
MAYNARD Miller, Mushbach, Parrlsl
Washington, and Watts-l9.
Noes-Messrs. Barnes. III. Nj, buchanan
Harnsterger. Hurt, Jackson, Jordal
lie Cato Sands. Tredway, Walton. an
Williams-ll.
Mr. Watson was paired with Mr.. Stubb