The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-09-06
Nj. !. II. Hardy,s Address On
Statewide Prohibition Issue
Leading Citizen of Church Roads Speech Reply to Con
enons of Liquor Interest For Maintanence of Saloon il
Virginia.

The following speech was delivered
at Ford, Va, August 18th, by Mr.. -
II. Hardy, of Church Road. Mr..
Hardy is one of the most prominent
men OF his county and is firmly con-
vnced that Virginia should adopt
Statewide prohibition on September
22nd
a Condition and the Remedy
The American people are laboring
under great pressure. they are
weighed down by groat responsibilities
concerning political. commercial and
moral questions. AS the scales are
falling from our eyes and we look
around us and witness the sad sight
that reflects clearly the undeniable
need of action on our part. there is
beating in the veins of every true
and honest man a new idea. born OF
a quickened conscience and fed by
the pure atmosphere from God. What
lis that idea?
That God made man In His own
image, that he might keep the world
lin state of peace, prosperity and
happiness Just at this time we are
interested in a special warfare. What
is it9 A decision by the people on
the 22nd day of September whether
this State shall sell Liquor within her
borders. There Is an awful conflict
going on Just now among the voters.
How about the women? While their
voices are silent at the ballot box.
their hands are upiifted. as a unit.
their prayers are ascending upward
and are piled up in heaven AZ high a.
"a mountain, The current Is so strong
on their part for righteousness. that
as we men mediate, and as we try
TO think Of the great fountain head OF
life. love. peace and happiness. these
words bound and rebound IN tour
ears:
Woe unto him that bufldeth
town with blood and stablisheth a
city by iniquity. woe unto him that
giveth his negflbor drink. that put
teth thy bottle to him, and maketh
him drunken also" Habakkuk, verses
10 and is.
What Has Happened?
Two thousand years since GOD
spoke these awful truths turns
out that every city in the United
States has laid her pavements in the
blood of her people and that the
United States has put her stamp up
on her liquor bottle and pressed 1t
TO her neighbours lips. And today
God almightys truth is verified upon
US and woe and sorrow are upon US.
If / should name the things that are
most hurtful to American peace. pros
perity and happiness. and trace them
back to their legitimate sources
would locate them in the liquor bar
rels and beer kegs of America.
Authority for and Against Whisl1ey.
We have quoted Gods word against
the sale Of whiskey. Whose word
have we for 1t? We witnessed In the
beginning of this warfare large as
sembly of people gathered at the CAPT.
tai of our State After consultation
among men, including learned men OF
the law. who know that every law
enacted and executed for the guild
ance and protection of the people
must have it's origin from or reflect
upon the Bible, the only infallible in
struction, this great body OF men did
not hold out the light of the Bible
as the source Of their authority, they
did not call on suffering manhood and
womanhood to testify In behalf OF
their cause. they did not even con-
suit the decision Of the highest court
to get authority to hold up and pro-
tect the license saloon. II they had
considered such authority they would
have found the following instruction
to be governed by.
Nor can it be said that government
interferes with or impairs anyone's
constitutional rights of liberty or OF
property when the manufacture or
eral or individual use as beverage
are, or may become. hurtful to society
and constitute, therefore, q business
in which no one may lawfully en-
gage" Muglar W.. Kansas. LA, y, y.
625
Their sales in that form may De
absolutely prohibited There 10 no IN
herent right in citizen TO sell IN
toxcants by retail. 1t il not q privi-
lege Of the State. or of q citizen OF the
United States AS 1t 10 business
which is attended with danger 70 the
community, 1t may. as already saAu.
be entirely prohibited, or be permitted
under such conditions as will limit 70
the utmost its evil. Crowlet W.. Chris
Jensen, 1873 U. s., 81"
We have not found their authority
vet. Where Is IT? Is 1t hard to find
No. Local Option" there 1t H. They
hug 1t up to their bosom. they caress
it. they kiss 1t. and call 1t the child OF
the Democratic party. II took Mr..
Cabeil over forty years to tell US
something good about Democracy. out
az al the blessings this orgxnixatton
has handed ~ the people alncs