The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-30
SUNDAY. OCTOBER 20. 1885.
soME ERRORS OF PROHIBIT
TIOsISTS.


In lest Sundays issue We submitted
some remarks on the Prohibition ques-
ton, 70 which our esteemed contempt
rary, tire Boydton Weekly star, takes ex-
oeptioLs We referred 10 "a Prohibition
romance. Ia which . wife murderer, upon
whom the sentence Of death had been
passe1 declared that me court was par
teeps eriminis. because as he alleged he
owed his downfall to whisky. and the
court licensed tie "a o. the whisky
which he drank. We said that in fixing
the responsibility he should not have
stopped al the court the jury, the
preacher. who had testified and So on,
but should have included God himself.
who permitted whisky 10 b. Our con-
temporary replies.
The Times had az we'll say that God
should be railed at tecause he permits
such thiass as murder and ROBBERY to
e~-s'
Cod placed the control OF liquor in
the bands &C nan Just as ne placed the
control OF murders. burglary, etc. Man
has acted his part In fixing a law which
VAL In measure reduce the number
OF murders. The SANE power Is "a the
hands OF men 70 pro.db4t the public SAFE
of liquor.
Suppose the voters Of this state agree
TO abolish the law against the taking
Of human life, and substitute a law al
lowing one to pay license to XIII BY
whoitsale and retail; who would The
Tines say was guilty Of the murde-?
Would Il he these alone who did the
killing? We think The Times VIII agree
with VS. that the voters VINO made the
law would be equoily as guilty. Just 50
10 the liquor traffic.
1t Is at this point that the Prohibi-
tionists stumble in their estimate Of the
liquor question. They represent Alcohol
as a demon which goes about the land
seeking whom it may Kill. and they lose
sight entirely OF the free agency OF
man. They also represent that spurious
liquors are OF the devil, and that ne
decent man may touch them without
deflement. In point OF fact, alcohol Is
one OF Gods creatures as surely as is
morphine or cocaine or any other crea-
ton of that character a poison II used
TO excess, a blessing II used within
moderation. Alcohol is not necessarily a
thing OF denlemsnt, ana where one man
drinks 10 his ruin. thousands, among
whom are the best OF men and women,
drink 1t TO their comfort and benefit SO
we see that alcohol IL not a demon in
Itself, and II does not force itself upon
any man. 1t Is no more q murderer
than a pistol is murderer when man
taxes It IN his hand ana blows out his
cwn brains. The State licenses the SAFE
of pistols. but 1t does net thereby en-
courage men 20 commit suicide.
Does our contemporary note the dif-
ference? We fear not The Prohibi-
ZIONIST. cannot see but one side Of this
question. He cannot get it out OF his
head that whiskey-drinking 81 crime,
because some men abuse it. He classes
u with murder End arson and other
hideous crimes, and would deal with Il
as such. He would abolish alcohol. be-
that policy is to De pursued. why stop
1T alcohol? Alcohol It not tbs only temp
tation. nor Is II the worst TO large
majority Of people II Is not a temptation
at all There are some things, however,
which are universal temptations. Why
not abolish them and so remove all in
ducements to evil? Bur that Is not Gods
way. Re temperate be sober, De honest,
be chaste. says the Bible. in spite Of the
temptations that bcset on every hand.
The central poirt In the article from
which or Boyd.on contemporary quotes,
and which ne seems entirely 20 have
missed IL that no man may justify his
Inisooings by the plea that he was
tempted Adam made that cowardly
plea ags inst the wife OF his bosom, but
Il did his ca1sc moro harm than good,
An6 has evcr been and viii ever be a
standing reproaeh 20 the male sex.
Another error that our Prohibition
friends nake.-an error OF thu head ana
NOT OF the heart. for they are all ac-
mated by q noble purpose--is with refer
cnos 10 the licensing OF liquor selling
The word license IN this connection Is
an unfortunate designation. for while
esiviitss - granted. II 10 with many
restrictions. No other business II oon-
pAsssa about with 10 many restrictions
- the liquor tusiosA - saloon,