Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1872-11-09
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as Secretary at said meeting, but as oui
duties on the occasion were by no means
onerous. we must endeavor to make NJ
our lack of service in such report as
memory will enable US to give.
The meeting was called to order by
! the Hon. A. r. Boteler, who upon pre-,
vious nomination by G. 7. Licklider,
had taken the chair.
After some Introductory remarks by
the Chairman, the blessing OF God was
invoked according to the good old Gus
tom, which conventions Of all sorts have
not ceased to observe.
! Addresses were made by Rev. DR.
Andrews, Rev. J. Hawkins, and c. T.
Butler, Esq, which were argumentalive,
forcible, and to the point.
! The principle object of the meeting
was stated to be the consideration of the
new aud as reported most successful
! legislation, which several States have
fallen upon for reducing the liquor bus
mess within pretty narrow and to the
groggery keepers pretty dangerous
bounds.
The wit of this discovery and of the
first most satisfactory experiment under
it seems to have been reserved to the
State of Ohio, from which it has spread
! with improvements into different States
East and West.
The law of Illinois will be found on
the first page Of this paper Let it be
studied well. In our judgment it is
worthy the efficiency reported of it and
the popularity which it enjoys Of abso-
lutely the whole community, except
those who have a selfish interest in the
sale OF liquor, who are not one in fifty
event Chicago, which in point of morals
appeared but poorly in our meeting.
This law was of course the main theme
of the speakers and well did they han
die it to the light and conviction of the
audience. The general impression
seemed to be very serious one as it
ought always to be when such a serious
subject is up for debate. But on such
a many sided subject the speakers
branchci out right and left-historical,
philosophical, chemical, medical, finan-
cial, legal, political, and moral, and it
must have been dull fellow who didn't
learn something.
The whole, even if memory served,
would fill our sheet. For such as were
absent, for cause, we give few scraps,
like the man who wishing to sell house
took one of the bricks of which it was
built and showed it from town to town
For example, ole Of the speakers mind
full Of first principles, urged the old OBJ
legation, touch not, taste not, handle
not, and in answer to the old cry about
liberty, illustrated by man in like
straits, when caught in the act Of steal
ing neighbors hog. The neighbor
said, why sir, this is bad case. Idon't
want to disgrace you or your family. I'll
tell you what, if you will sign written
pledge of total abstinence from stealing
hogs all and singular from this day
forth, the thing should drop.
The pledge was drawn up in due
form and presented for signature-the
man eyed it-hesitated, and said there
was but one thing that stuck with him
the idea Of signing away his Liberty.
This was but 4 single incident in the ar
gument.
Another spoke of the thorough and
permanent revolution in public opinion,
within the memory of many living. No
farther back than 1926, ministers might
frequent bar rooms without loss Of char
acter,so they only did not become drunk.
Now not only church members, but the
veriost tipplers would for such conduct
make them the stalking horses Of CEN
sure and the butt of ridicule.
Again the power of a changed public
opinion-still going on-by reason of
the mighty facts and Irresistible argu-
mentS in the case, was seen in the fact
that formerly the liquor dealer, like the
dry goods dealer, stood in his front
door, rubbing his hands and saying
come in gentlemen, glad to see you,
His wares, like his ncighbors, were ex-
hibited in show windows-jugs, bottles,
denijohns, glasses and decanters of eve
~ hue. But where is the article now {?
Contraband of public opinion it fees be-
hind painted windows and frosted win
dows, and red curtains, and green cur.
tains, and folding doors, to back rooms
and garrcts and cellars, as the devil fees
before the avengers of blood, with torch
of truth in one hand and sword of jus
lice in the other
The general result was large addi-