The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-22
ItRDUIJIIIoN GRANT a"

In our Peoples Forum" today Will be found
an interesting commune ation efltci2ing the po-
stion OF this paper ON prohibition. The Wv
giltlan r. always wiling TO publish articles on
both sides Of great question. and very gladly
publishes this letter. We appreciate The kind
words Of The Writes IN reference TO the news
aud editorial departments OF the papor. and are
glad to note mat he is broad enouea to the
good things i'll The rDgia(0H, and 10 read il,
though he docs not agree with views on the
one subject OF Prohibition.
Concerning position ON this question, the
writer uses the term Rant" rs expressing his
View Of our position. The word Rant means
TO rave in .violen. LANGUAGE, to use ettrava-
giant language" Now The Nirginian does not
believe that il has used either violent 'ex-
trasagant' language concerning the prohibition
utstion, jhc tjtaiatda bciieres that the liquor
traffic is the greatest evil Of the time the curse
Of poor and rich alike. and that bare state.
ment OF the actual Facts in the case Wl'i require
the strongest kind OF language.
Our correspondent viii agree with us that the
opinion Of the Supreme Court of the United
States IL not rant. he Supreme Court declares,
II here a4e iey sources Of crime aud misery 10
society equal 10 the dram shop And again
The statistics oI every State show greater
amount OF crime and misery attributable to the
OF ardent spirits obtained ut these retail Ii.
quor saloons than 10 any other source,
tertaHly Ihc thp}BsdH has not used any
stronger Language than this concerning the L.
winch one is justified ia using strong language.
If is concerning traffic which results in such
waste such poverty, such misery, such crime
and personal ruin
Our Correspondent refers 10 the Holy Blblo
in support OF his contention that because my
neighhor becomes drunk you do not Indulge,
Is IL right that I should be prevented from TAX
ing A drink when desire 1t. There many
things in the lives of the patriafchs and heroes
OF Israel which narrated ia the Bible. but
III.
be tolerated to-day Noah planted, a vineyard
and drank the wine until he fell down IN a
drunken stupor. unable, as Is any drunken man,
10 prevent the indecent exposure of his person.
Jacob married two sisters and took their maids
for coneubines. thus living with four wives at
the same time Gideon had seventy sons by his
many wives
The fact that certain al.iags are mentioned in
the Bible is no proof that ought to engage in
them. Indeed. the Bible very strongly condemns
the very position taken h. our correspondent
The wise man declares Woe unto the man
that putteth the bottle to his neehbors lips. ana
declares that wine Is moeker strong drink is
raging" and SAYS, Look not upen he wine when
il Is red Christ declares woe upon the man
that causes one of the weak TO offend. say
ing that II is better for him that a milestone
be hanged about his neck. and that he be drown
ed in the uttefuost depths OF the sea And
Paul. the great loaica1 and moral teacher, de-
clares sBat Il thy brother be Rrievod with thy
meat tdriIk'. nos walkest thou not lovingly;
destroy net him with thy meat for whom Christ
died, II is good neither to cat meat 10 drink
wine. nor ANYTHING whereby thy brother Stun
hleth on Il offended. IL made weak" And he
declares we then, that are strong ought to
bear the infitnIties Of the weak. and not TO
please ourselves" The Bible positively declares
fhat man ougii, to deny himself for the sake
OF a weak brother
AS matter OF fact. il should not be forgotten
that there is I'D nroper counarisan between the