Tobacco and Prohibition.
By Editor
A SHORT time ago we referred to the practice of saturating tobacco with alcoholic liquors, and now comes the strongest possible confirmation of our statements. There was a local option campaign made lately in Richmond, Va. In opposition to it and in favor of the whisky interest, the State, a Richmond journal, made the following argument:— "If Prohibitionism, imported from New England, triumphs at the polls next Monday, the liquor traffic in this city closes for two years at least. "Alcoholic liquor is used in the manufacture of tobacco. The manufacture of tobacco is the most important industry in Richmond. Rum and brandy are the liquors used by tobacconists in mixing their flavorings. The rum not only separates the particles of flavoring matter proper, but rum itself also imparts a nice flavor to the tobacco. No substitute can be used for alcohol. Take away rum from the tobacco trade and every tobacco factory would be closed. "Now, should the Prohibitionists carry the election, our tobacconists would have to send North for their rum and brandy. This tobacco-liquor is a large item in the wholesale trade. It would be unlawful for a man in Richmond to sell liquor to a tobacconist; therefore he must slip away to Baltimore, New York, or Boston for it." If any fact were needed to justify the unqualified condemnation of the use of tobacco, this argument has certainly furnished it. And it also shows that no man can be a consistent Prohibitionist and use tobacco. We say, let genuine, consistent prohibition prevail throughout all the land and all the inhabitants thereof.