The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1859-12-15
TUE TE VPERANCE LAW.

LIE IJGIIlbS W. - kfNNb N"ss ''f I"~
ple of an an Incorporated town shall
have the power TO say whether or not
spirituous liquors shall be sold In their
midst. Mr.. Bradford introduced the
bill, and although we know nothing
Of Mr.. Bradford, yet we accord to him
great praise for the act, presenting
that he introduced it from Il convic.
ton that it would be Il benefit to the
public. II his constituency desired
him to do so, we are better pleased,
for thlt would evidence II noble
change in the feelings Of the people.
But whether or not such n law will
bo an advantage over he present tip.
ping system, has already become Il
matter Of dcbatc. As for II part, we
say it will, and therefore hope that it
will become u law. At lea't, we
can not sec why mcn in our L"gisla.
turc should vote against it becoming
II law. yet such is true. There be
those who assert that if the majority
of a corporation rcgtrd a grocery as
n nuisance and wish to exercise it they
must not do so. is that the Republi.
can mode Of government Cannot
the m%gjor7ty Of Il town or village H.
act and sustain a law for their own
benefit, and which would harm no
rthcr town or viIlage?! If n major
ity Of the citizens Of Winchester
(and we believe thrcc.lourtlis are that
way look upon the vending OF intox-
icatiug liquors as a curse, shall they
not be allowed to pass a corporate
law to exclude that curse IHcy are
the men who pay the taxes that keep
up the town principaIly--they are the
men whose interests are identified
with the place, and would do nothing
to iujure it, aye, they arc men too
whohavc sonSto raiSeup, and full well
do they know that IA vice too often seen
grows familiar, and we embrace it
perhaps at last. How many good
fathers are in our town to-day who
can lay hands on their hearts and
agree with us in saying that the on
Dcnicnce the bOlI, aIluring convent
cncc of the "traiic that leads to hell
has been the means of bringing s0r-
row to them by inveigIing into its de-
ccitlul meshes the child dotted upon?
We arc not trying to draw ON fancy 4;
we are not trying to portray the ruin
and disgrace with which liquor covers
its victim as it hurr,cs him on to an
untimcly grave we are not going to
sneak of the women and children it
bcggars and leaves houscIcss and pen.
nilcss Of the many bitter, burning
tears that course down the pallid
checks Of that dear wife who waits
till the mournlul hour 0ftwclve, when
hell itself is awake and Gcnds stalk
forth, and yet she sits and waits for
him who is drowned in the beastly for
gctlulncss Of fiery liquor. Our own
community is not free from such cx.
amplcs. Said q woman to Is in this
county not long since. one we knew
when II sunny. hearted maiden at her
fathers happy home, but who now
lives the wife ola drunkard-said she:
"Would to God ! had never married
him. and tears amt trickling down
her checks Tn t would have moved a
heart of stone to pity. And her hus.
band comes to town with good intcn.
tons to keep sober, yet there is the
temptation, and when night comes he
staggcls to his home u terror to his
wife and child. Great God what has
gone with the holy vow, the truth, the
love, the trust, that won the heart of
his chosen bride Scattered and
tramplcd in the dust by the iron tread
Of liquor.
But let US come a iiHie closer home.
Have we not girls in Winchester " no
daily traverse our streets, and is there
n chance to miss these places where
cursing and obsceniiy are mostly
heard We have seen ladies' many
a time walk across the square to avoid
a crowd of drunken men passing on n
public thoroughfare. But further, is
it not q convenient resort and q place
OF ruin for your negroes How many
have felt its effects in this respect
And shall nothing be donel Shall
not n majority put "A stop to such =
Perhaps the bill in question may not
effect what we think it will, but let
us try it. Some say that people will
go of and buy liquor and bring it to
town and drink it. That may be-
But just imagine an election to come
off in Winchester under the proyis.
ions ofthc bill before the Legislature.