The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-31
II Mars Christmas and All seasons.

Editor richmond firgtnian.
Sir,-chrlstmas 1910 has gone into history.
Millions of hearts caught the echo OF the angelic
song "Peaewg on Earth, Good VIII Toward Men.
While it Was IL season OF giving. let us hope
that ii vas also time of forstVine, AZ no
gift of material substance can equal in value
the forgiveness OF injuries What pity that
the haliowed season. when the heart of nature
seems 10 beat closer to the heart oftod, should
be marred by unseernly revelry and drunken
ness The columns OF the papers record
the awful toll Of accidents. deaths and dire ca
lamity that IL exaeted D. the drink curset And
yet be fanatics who in season and out of
season protest against the prostitution or iegis-
atise functions IL iegaizing traihc that is
inmical to the moral and material we'll being
OF the people Yes. be fanatics who also In
sist that 1t is da1 geroas thing tn provide egg
noH and wine soeiables, and point to indls-
putable evidences Of the havoc wrought by such
customs. So let Il be. We had rather wear
the badge OF u fanatic flying the danger signal
TO our feiio" men than to be a crowned prince
in the social circle that bends the elbow to tho
god OF wine,
We told that the mail order liquor houses
did n record breaking Christmas business much
of the liquid going into dry territory, and this
is said To ne evidence OF prosperity" Who
ian measure the @oefai record OF the effects Of
this Christmas liquor trade ia saddened hearts
and homes?
1t is difficult to find man who is not . tenn
perance man. 1t Is the most popular and most
common thing to b. friend Of temperance,
Tho Liquor Dealers Association flies the flag
of temperance and aobrletyt' The moderate
drinker pirates Of Temperament" But the only
against the drink is that which be
properly defined total abstinence ON the part
Of the individual and legal prohibition the
part Of the State."- And thank God, the brand
tof temperance" Is becoming more and more
popular as the pubic conscience a~akens to
the awful responsibility confronting in this
enlightened age TO united efforts 20 conserve
the common veal
The apologists for the liquor traffic have been
driven to tho last ditch and seel to the
tide by homiltes from the old scareerow ana
weather-frazzed text, Prohibition don't pro-
hihitl" What is the total Of their efforts
to make II prohibit ard how many Of these apol-
ogtsts really want to see it prohibitP And they
all know Well enough they would not apply
, the arguments 10 any other law How
humtliating to admit the luvalidity OF the law
with respect to just one thing. and To advocate
the legal sanction for the purpose OF regulation
Of that thing admitted to be beyond the
majesty OF the Jaw
Let keep 1t before the people that the
legal license OF the beverage liquor traffic has
never been and never will be- can 1t be,
successfully defended on any grounds Of social,
political or other ethics. la thus saying ! am
not impugning the motives of anybody but az
certain publicist said, When you up
against a fact YOU have just got to pitch your
tent and camp right there.'
W. NJ BICkERS.
Richmond Va. Dec 90 1910