Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-01-10
W- GRAND SUPPER AT DUFFIELDs.-

The Supper held at Dutfields, on New
I Years Day, by Phoenix Division, No.
IS, Sons of Temperance, was grand
success, The ministers of the different
churches of our town were invited to
attend, but owing to previous engage
ments were unable to do so. The fol
lowing is letter written to the Dlvl-
sion, by that earnest and able advocate
of Temperance, the Rev. DR.. Andrews,
stating his regrets for not attending, to-
gether with some wholesome encour-
agement, which, with the permission OF
the Dr., was handed to us by 'Mary
Beau for publication =
SuEpHERDsTowN. Dec. 81, rs.
Committee of Arrang sments for Tenn
perante Supper, 10 be giuen at Dyf-
felds, Jan. |, 1874.
GENrLEMEN-Being unable to accept
your kind invitation, | mnst address to
you word of cheer touching the good
work in which YOU are engaged. L
have been at some pains to look into
the statistics of temperance and of in
temperance in the United States, and
especially in our own county, and find
that the amount of drunkenness in this
part of Jefferson County, embracing
Duffields and Leetown, is less by one
half than the general average of the
United States, and that Duflields and
Leetown with their vicinities, are i'll adj
vance of any other similar portions of
the county. The good which YOU have
achieved is worth living for. Thank
God and take courage, and lei your
motto be ONWARD.
BY the fidelity of our representatives
in both houses of the Legislature to the
wishes of the people, together with the
number Of Senators who hold over, and
whose opinions are avowed and known,
our liquor law is safe for four years to
come and before that time public opin-
ion will demand that its stringency be
increased, perhaps to entire prohibition.
The Legislatures of all civilized ma
tons, alarmed at the increase Of intern
perance and the temporal ruin likely to
ensue, are moving all in the same direc-
ton. England, both in Church and
State, has taken up the work in earnest.
A cabinet minister in Russia has sent to
this country tor copies of all our liquor
laws, of which there are few as good as
that in West Virginia.
Petitions are now before Congress
representing more than a million ofpeo-
pie praying for commission simply to
obtain and publish in authentic form all
the facts touching the manufacture, sale
and effects of intoxicating liquors.
The facts simply in pecuniary point
of view when pnt in such shape that no
man can dispute them, will be astound-
ing. 1t will appear that every grog
shop in the land costs the country an
average of $4,000 piece in the shape
Of taxes, for their province is to impov-
erish families, people penitentiaries and
pun
Meanwhile let us see to the execution
of the law which we have, and institute
prosecutions whenever they are viola
ted. since the best feature of our law IS
the facility with which convictions can
be obtained. The responsibility is now
upon those who allow the law to be vi
olated when they have the power to
prevent it.
Our next move will probably be for
local option" by which, in my judg-
ment: the sale Of liquor as a beverage,
could now be prohibited in most parts,
if not in every part of this county.
In this enlightenment and reformation
Of public opinion none have been more
successful than yourselves, and none are
more resolved to persevere in the work.
With best wishes of the season, | am,
as heretofore, and as / intend to contin-
ue while life lasts, your friend and ser
want in the work.
G.. w. ANDREWS.