The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-03-24
TUESDAY. MARCH "a, 1903 '3'..
f. ABOUT THE IL. LIQUOR 'l)t)
y QUESTION.

a lee, 80 ga
we have given more of our space TO . COLI
Imunications on this subject than we
were called upon to give, but IT IS an
interesting subject and az, importL ''1,'
subject and We want all the light ina. that
can be shed. we should not care to say
anything in reply to Mr.. Cannon except
that his communication appears to be
III answer to certain editorials which nave
appeared In this paper and 1t may there
fore be assumed by some that every
proposition which Mr.. Cannon lays down
lis a proposition opposed by this paper.
we think 1t we'll, therefore, once more
IA state our own position on the LIQUOR
question IN general and on the Mann bill
in particular. s. i. t,.. n
a In discussing this question, as In discuss
Ing all questions, we try to get at the
truth We try to ascertain what are the
facts, and to keep the facts well In mind
in drawing our conclusions.
/ First OF all, then, 1t IS a fact that alco-
hol is here; that 1t has been here from
the foundation Of the world, and that 1t
will be here until all things have come
to an end Extremists say that alcohol
AZ the creature of the devil, and that 1t
ought to be abolished OF course, that
is an absurdity, Alcohol was made by
the same Creator who created the earth
and all things therein, and without whom
was not anything mado that was made
There is no harm, per Sc, In alcohol. II
lis a good thing In Itself, and thousands
and hundreds of thousands of people use
lit to their comfort, If not to their bene-3
1T and never to their hurt. 1t ought not
Ito be abolished. M Ell
". 1t is no wrong, per Sc. to take a drink.
OF whskey, nor it is wrong, per SO, to,
sell whlslxey. Some Of the best men
s and women in the world take a drink Of
.whiskey or wine occasionally, and 1t Is
absurd to say that they commit wrong
4 in so doing. There are reputable mcr-N
&c chants In all parts Of Virginia who sell
! alcoholic liquors. and it is absurd to say.
/. that they are criminals or that they
are engaged in criminal ira fife
These statements may be denied. but
4 they cannot be disprovcd. They are facts
and they are facts to be dealt with in
considering this important subject. 5f
Another fact to be considered IS this;i
]; that men have a perfect right to drink
alcoholic liquors and they cannot under
our system Of government be deprived
Of that right BY law. So long as they
. have that right many men will demand
alcoholic liquors and where there is an
extensive demand in any branch OF busi-
ness the supply is sure to be forthcona-
Ing. 49, {,
We must" assume, therefore, that as It
was from the beginning, SO 1t will be to
the end, alcohol will continue to exist
men will continue to drink it, other men
will continue to sell it and SO 1t all comes
around at last to the question Of regu-
tating the sale In such way as to sup
+ oily popular demand with least offense
10 those who are opposed to the traf-
fic. lIl sAg #V3 q
Mr., Cannon, In his communication, as
serts with much emphasis that a saloon
) IS a public nuisance. II that were true
there would be no need Of the Mann bill
or any other bill for a public nuisance
can be dbated without special statutory
enactment. Sngularly enough. Mr.. Cam
y non denies his own assertion. In one
breath he says that saloon Is a, public
nuisance and in the next breath he argues
4 in favor OF the Mann bill, which provides
that a Judge may grant n license to con-
duct saloon, under certain conditions.
OF course, a judge may not grant H.
4 cense to Il man to conduct nuisance un-
der any conditions. The saloon Is not
nor so, a public nuisance. A saloon may
II a nuisance Gas some of them are), u
which case II should not be tolerated
No man has the right to sell liquor or t
drink liquor In such n way as 10 create
4 public nuisance.
ii will be observed that we are stll
engaged in stating facts, We arc not de
nying that the abuse of liquor consti
iutes great evil; that It IL responsible
for much suffering and for much crime
nor are We denying that tho create
& eyil of the liquor traffic Is In tho opel
saloon. These are facts also and facts t
he reckoned with In considering the j
o,,or question. But we cannot abolish al
cohol and We cannot abolish The evil
"A OF alcohol. 1t Is therefore merely cues
tion Of how 10 reduce these evils to III
s. minimum Tor our part we do not be
lieye in prohibition; we do not believ
/ IN the doctrine of prohibitionists becaus
prohtbit!onists are intolerant and the
K are undemocratlc and too often they al
fanatical. Nor do we believe In prohib
= lion as an efficient means Of gettln
rid OF the liquor evil. 1t was tried in II
state OF New Hampshire for generation
ana but recently 1t was abandoned In 4
yoF Of high licenss, Iffit had been
N remedy for tlJc eyll surely tho Puritan
cal population Of New Hampshire wou
3neysr have abandoned II, But In spi
ef all Tint, we believe an local self,go
81 srarsHt. md we ere wiling that ga