Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1874-04-30

The temperance movement in the
West has been very appropriately called
the crusade. The brief notices which
appear in tbc daily press give but a
faint idea of the extent of this revolu
ton or the zeal displayed by those who
are engaged in the work. The IN
expected mode adopted arrested public
attention, and many suppose that it is
confined to side walk prayer meetings
and saloon picketing. But such is not
the case. These are but the minor dis
plays which attract the attention of the
curious. Daily prayer meetings in
the churches, united efforts Of all
denominations, subscriptions of large
amounts OF money, together with the
combined influence of the courts, the
press and the clergy are the means upon
which tl.ey in part rely for the arrest Of
the sale of Intoxicating drink. TIL,
union of every power, religious and
secular, has been enlisted in this grand
crusade in which woman appears as
Peter the Hermit Imagining her
self the special instrument chosen Of
God to deliver her country from the
possession and the influence of whisky
sellers,she has manifested a zeal almost
equal to that of the leader of the first
crusade, and with the same fanaticisin
has attempted to reverse the laws OF
nature in assigning to herself a position
as unnatural as it is revolving. The
crusade continued upon the same
principle would, we have no doubt,
prove as disastrous as was that Of the
18th century. 4 spirit of determine
ton and self denial together with a
firm reliance upon the aid of God which
has enabled these leaders to sacrifice
the comforts and luxury of home, and
in total disregard of snow and rain,to en-
gage in prayer meetings upon the side
walks,or stand around whisky saloons
from early dawn to the silence of
midnight, will, when controlled by
reason rather than by the fanatlcal idea
that woman gains strength by remov-
ing herself from her. own proper sphere,
be sufficient to arouse the sleeping
sentiments Of the American people
upon this important subject. Society
very properly assumes to herself not
only the right but the duty to inauga-
rate sanitary measures and without re-
gard to expense, to protect herself
from diseases of a contagious character;
and yet whisky drinking, pronounced
by modern physicians to be a disease,
is encouraged by laws granting license
and protection to men engaged in
sowing its seeds throughout the coun-
try. While the mode adopted by the
modern crusaders is in some respects
repulsive, the effects Of their work we
have reason TO believe, will result in
attracting public attention to the great
outrage which has been inflicted upon
society by this horrible business. 1t is
indeed time that something were done
for public protection. A law requiring
those who receive profit by the sale of
whisky to be responsible for the direct
and indirect injury sustained by its use
would be just both to the seller and to
the community. A law of this k ind,
together with the strict enforcement of
the statutes now in existence, would do
more to check this growing evil than
the ostentations parade of hundreds of
ladies' upon the public streets of our
towns and cities.
INTEREST oNTHE Public DEBT. The
bill which has been under discussion in
the Legislature constituting the Cover