Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1874-10-03
A CARD.

Dear Sir-When the voluminous sub
iect of lying came up in regular course
in my Bible Glass some years ago, the
question was raised-"What shall one
do when asked for information which
the party asking has no right to, las J.
E., when one asks a young lady whether
she is engaged to be married) and q
refusal to answer would be taken as
equivalent TO an answer in the aftirma-
tive, and thus the party by dishonorable
means learn what he had no right to
know! :" The advice given was this
s.Y on can under no circumstances assert
that to be true which is not true, as
you believe that fearful scripture, Rev.
81, s. But lay it down rs a principle
never to answer such questions at all,
no matter whether the true answer
would be yes or no, and inform all par
ties asking such questions, OF the prln'
ciple which you have laid down to gov
ern you in such cases. And that your
silence will in no wise he y them in any
direction"
To take another case-It | were ask,
ed whether ] communicated to the
Commonwealth Attorney the names
of persons to be put upon oath before
the grand jury, and sworn to tell the
truth. the whole truth and nothing but
the truth, upon pain OF being indicted
TO. perjury, with its admitted conse,
quences in this world if detected, and
in the next, whether detected here or
not, about anything within thelrk nowl-
edge touching the sale OF sprltuous IL
quors contrary to law, | should feel at
perfect liberty to act myself upon this
principle which have commended to
others, and should certainly SO act OF
not according to my discretion.
1t is quite conceivable that one might
anonymously inform the Prosecuting
Attorney Of witnesses in case of rob
berry, arson or murder, from fear of
personal injury from those in some way
implicated in the crime. He might as
sumo that he had at least tie same
rights as anonymous writers in newspa-
rers, and that the attorney knew his
duties. And while in the late cases OF
alleged violation of law, | choose to say
that | had nothing to do with furnish
ing or communicating the names OF
witnesses, | think ! am not assuming
too much to say in behalf of the people
generally, concerning any parties who
furnish witnesses, that if they believe
the law TO be Violated, Gas everybody
knows it is yiolated,) and if they be
lieve the witnesses, or at least some of
them, know the truth 81 will tell it under
oath, (and that they should SO believe is
certainly not Incredibly to the punish
ment of Offenders and the maintenance
of law, then they deserve the thanks of
the community, as for one do most
heartily thank aud honor them.
1t is a credit TO any town struggling
to redeem itself from the ideleness, pro
family and decentralization which charac-
tcrizes every drinking community,
especially a town which We expect to
see crowded with youths as centre of
education, and concerning which we
hope aud expect to be able TO say to
parents that no intoxicating liquors are
sold in it either publicly or by the acts
resorted to for eyading the law. In
completing this reformation if the otii-
GERS Of the law, sheritls, jurors, &c,
have their sworn duties. the citizen also
has his, which are equally obligatory,
and if lie fails to sustain said officers by
suitable information and moral support,
he forteits all claim to the laws protec-
ton when he falls into the hands of the
lawless, and lis officers leave him to his
fate. If mention be made of the cost
of superfuous witnesses, due considers-
ton should doubtless be had; but when
this bagatelle il put in comparison with
the fifteen hundred and sevepty-tiye
millions cost annually to which the Ii
Quor traffic puts this country, to say
nothing Of the thousands of sorrow
stricken families, it looks like straining
at a gnat and swallowing 4 camel.
The sale OF whisky is in this county
contraband of law, and it has already
become so in more than half the coun-
tie. Of this State. In some licenses
have been refused for fifteen years. In
no instance but one that | can learn.
have licenses once refused boon granted
and in that but for short time.
In a growing number OF the States,
after loug battle, which is irresistible
and must be resolutely encountered,
prohibition has become fixed, either by
local option or statute law, aud in some
it is made part Of the constitution. 1t
is the noblest monument Of the age in
which long outraged humanity is6egin-
ming to assert its rights.
The traffic in intoxicating drinks
tends more than all other causes com
bined to impoverish aud denUralize the
community. More than all other causes
it fills the land with criminals; burdens
it with taxes, and produces more than
four-hflhs of all the murders committed.
Dor magistrates for their noble action
in May last have received the thanks OF
more than niae TEXTS Of the people of
the county, of the WOmen (whose voice
on this subject, if on any in the world,
should be listened to- with scarce an
exceptions.
You say that ten persons were pre-
sented for selling contrary to law, and
only one Indictment was found. That