The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-04-05
Are the People Ready =?


Sir,-This is a pertinent question,
and over $4,000 Virginians expressed
themselves In the affirmative To our
late Legislature; but certain leading
members of that body Of law makers
dis.egardea the wishes of over IS per
cent of the number who voted in the
last State election by their strenuous
efforts to defeat the request OF the peo-
pie and thereby refused to allow the
people the privilege of voting on State
wide prohibition. To me It was as
tonishing how eioquently some of the
solons OF the Legislature and three
newspapers az Richmond city harperi
upon that false key of fooiishiy teach
ing the people that to interfere with
the licensed liquor saloon was to In
terfere with the personal liberty OF
the people-thus failing TO recognize
the traffic az great evil and should
| be dealt with as great moral ques-
ton. II would be Just as wise TO at
tempt to teach the people that to pun
ish the thief and the murderer would
be interfering with personal liberty
yes, decided interference with the
personal liberty OF the thief and the
robber.
We know that law Is intended 10
protect the weak against the strong.
but how woefully that purpose is
thwarted by the licensed 1auor traffic
so powerfully championed by some of
our law makers, the Liquor Dealers
Association. and some newspapers, all,
on which Ill influence is supplemented
by the clubhouse saloon, the popular
use of wine in banquets. in the the
punch bowl, and sometimes In the
home where wine Is dispensed as an
| expression of Kindness but which Is
! truly very great unkindness. All Of
these are but means of teaching the
youth of our land TO follow in the foot
steps OF customary habits by which
I tens Of thousands are led into ways
of insobriety and ruin In all that goes
to make the man and home How
many homes In this city and State
are now suffering the whitening blight
of the Intoxicating drink habit?
Arrayed against that mighty aggre-
CATION of powerful influences is the
Anu-Saloon League and the temper
aHet- organizations, ard we ali gladly
welcome the new daily newspaper. The
Richmond Virginian, as being in sym
pathy with the great temperance
movement. heartily endorse the fol-
lowing. which / quoted from your edi-
tortat OF the so utttmu,
The liquor traffic is, primarily q
moral. secondarily, an economic gues-
ton. 1t is a political question only be-
cause the liquor traffic is entrenched
| in the legislation OF the State and
claims protection from the State be-
cause of the license granted by the
State. 1t Is political question In that
1t is a subject of Legislative enactment,
but II IL not political question in the
sense OF coming properly within the
domain OF party politics."
II We turn to the foundation of all
Ia ha Ia fe.
in the Bible-we are confronted by the
law of expediency; In other words. we
are not TO do anything that will work
as stumbling block to others, which
Will cause others to be misied to their
hurt and We find that drunkenness
lie a crime In the sight of God and 1t
bars the entrance to heaven to the de-
bauched. fallen humanity; 1t therefore
follows that the Divine displeasure
falls equally as heavily upon the
drunkard manufa cturer and his place
OF business. And yet, SO many men
wish to perpetuate that business.
Since II Ia easily seen that the licensed
liquor saloon and the drinking OF in
toxtcating drinks constitute the strong
est weapons of the devil In this coun-
try, 1t Is equally plain that 1t is the
duty OF the great army of men belong
ing to the various churches to seek to
know from the Scriptures what is
true Bible temperance. and then to
present an unbroken line. OF opposition
to our common foe. having the assur-
ance OF the appreciation OF God and
an undivided public opinion behind
uS,
The writer OF this letter has In
course OF preparation the manuscript
for little book which will be Issued
on or about September /. which will
be very helpful in the investigation of
this important subject from the Bible
point OF view. j. w. DOLlN.
ISinl,rs,nnd IN