The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-16

- .----.---------------.------ =
prosecutions. Savonorala was driven
from the presence OF the people for
preaching the same truth.
When Luther struck at the money
bags of the peddlers OF indulgences
and tried to liberate souls with the
light Of the gospel a storm arose. This
IL likewise true of Wesley. The French
revolution was but the assertion of
right of humanity against the greed
and manners OF corrupt court
Men Against Money.
Human slavery died hard, because IT
was the same truth of humanity
against hogs. men against money. But
to come nearer home. Follow the eff
forts to improve the condition of the
workingman, to give him a living
wage, and to allow him little OF
life's time with his family In his poor
little home, besides the sleeping hours.
What do YOU find? The same truth at
work and producing a storm of dis
cord. 1t Ia men against hogs, vested
interests. When the influence of Christ
would take the poor children out of the
mills, the factories, the brewing and
liquor establishments and give them
chance to live. we find the same storm,
and people urging Christ and people
to depart and not dare to save children
at the expense of hogs, vested interests.
Consider the two great nights on
now. The first to liberate men from
the devil OF strong drink, and what
have we. The same question of men
against hogs, vested interests. How
many ask the question, is II right to
license the Saloon Very few on the
other side. 1t is question OF taxes,
business and vested interests Men
against hogs. How many men, how
many newspapers fought the law max
ing 1t a felony TO sell cocaine?
Who read any editorials against II,
and who heard any eloquent and
lengthy speeches against the law?
why? Because cocaine does one hun
dredth part the harm liquor does? No.
because there were less vested interests
In cocaine. The cocaine business had
no paid attorneys, it did not spend $500
to $500 a month advertising. There
were no hogs. no vested interests.
Neither did we find men trying in va
r.ous fields of expediency to find a
reason how not to do it, by saying
that a law against cocaine would not
prohibit, nor that the law would
make hypocrites and could not be en-
forced The law Is violated weekly and
,
rise and demand its repeal No. there
are no hogs here. no vested interests.
But when the influence of Christ
would dare to save poor men and
women from the demon of strong
drink what a storm IL raises. because
the hogs are in danger. vested inter-
est will suffer.
Haunted Legislative Halls.
Brewers and paid attorneys of the
liquor traffic can haunt the halls OF
the legislature and fight the effort to
give the people their own right to
vote to save men. but preachers and
citizens from an UBIQUITOUS lobby,
where they dare to speak in favor OF
saving poor men at the expense Of
valuable hogs-they must be driven
from the floor and kept from the CAPT
toll How dare they advocate saving
men at the risk of hurting hogs vested
interests? And the representatives OF
the city fight for the hogs"
Who dares lift his voice against
commerciaIized vice. and advocate
law to enforce the statues now on
run these places7 Is not the property
owner to be considered before the SAL
walton of the poor debased and de-
bauched man?
Would Christ save these women at
the expense OF hogs. vested interests?
II house in nearby city would or
dinarily rent for $50 a month. and
as the same house in the red light
district. it rented for nearly 5000
month. why destroy the rents OF the
property owners to save the poor
women2 The representatives OF the
cities fight back the influence of Christ
lest He save poor women at the ex-
pense of hogs.
when preachers come to advocate
the moral measures a storm is raised
and men howl. why? They would try
10 cast the demons out of men and
women at the expense of hogs. They
world try TO make ii easy 10 do right
and hard to do wrong; they would
give the doubt in favor of the righteous
laws the moral measures" ard not
always against them. Preachers are
lectured and told to keep away. They
appear TO be neither men. nor ciu-
gems in the estimate of some. Never
theless they live to be both. men and
citizens.
Blu, low, indeed. are those who are
not satJhed with the money coined
| by property owners out of the poor
| degraded bodies OF fallen women, but
| who want the state also to take toll
from their degradation and become
| party to their prostitution by granting
| them license. Were my grand old
state to become a partner In this traffic
| in human souls. j should hang my head
| In shame, and cover my face in dis
grace 1t is the old, old question of
saving poor men and women at the ex-
pense of valuable hogs, vested inter-
ests.
Oh, that our cities would urge Christ
to come In and dwell among and cast
out the demons of liquor. gambling