The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-04-30
Our NlOundsvlIIe Correspondence
The Recent RaIns---ApprehensIons
for the Fruit-.Speech of Judge
Cochran
MoUNDsvrE1E, W. Va, April 30.

COcnIduS
MoUNDsv1LIE, W. Va, April 30.
Editors Intelligencer:
Moundsville still lies in the beautiful
valley where it so long has stood, notwith'
standing the heavy rains that have Vlslt-
ed US during the last few days. But 1t Is
feared that we may have another HOOD
that will submerge the lower town il the
weather does not settle soon. The creeks
and smaller streams Of the country nave
been higher than they have been known
to be for the last ten years, ana mucn
damage has been done in the way OF car.
ryipg off fences, oveltiowing OF plowedi
land, &c. Many fear that the fruit WIZ
can only trust in providence and hope ior
the best.
The temperance meeting at the court
house last night was small as to the num-
Der IN attendance, compared with proceed
ing ones ,owinglno doubt to the inclemency
OF the weather, which rendered it almost
impossible for ladies to turn out at all.
Still, the audience was respectable one
and the remarks of Judge Cochran were
listened to with intense interest. wish
l could give synopsis OF his address,
that would give the reader an idea OF the
good things he said, but as time and
space both forbid I will content myself
with but few words, and doing 80 will
try to mention points that have not been
heretofore referred to by the different
speakers. First he said he did not believe
in levity in speaking of this great temper
ance movement. We are an excltable peo'
pie, but this is no ordinary excitement. Inc
subject is as old as the world. Yet from
week to week, from night to night men
and women meet together, and listen 10
long dry speeches on the subject, and yet
never grow tired. This proves that the
feeling is deep seated, and the effects OF
the excitement will be lasting. The time
has come when we feel that there Is
duty devolving on US in this matter, and
hence there is a great moral uplifting OF
the public mind. And if by the move
ment not saloon were closed, much good
has been done by the lifting up OF society.
It is taking us nearer to God. It is spread
ing all over the world. Europe is feeling
the effects, and in our country it is per-
meating every fiber OF our being. 1t Is
becoming part OF our nature and 1t Will
be permanent. All evils are aggressive in
their nature, and intemperance is no excep-
option to the rule. 1t is invading the home
circle. The church, the political world and
in short all society. Men holding high
positions in the church are engaged In the
traffic, and we are told not to meddle win
it, as it will stop the revenue OF tne
church. We are told that great part oi
the revenue of our country also comes
from the traffic, and that to stop it would
be a desthbloW to our finances as ma
ton. Let the revenue OF the church go
and let even the church itself go down II
il depends for its existence on whisky,
and far better would it be for our country
to die sober than to live drunk.
He eloouenf1y described the demon OF
as great monster, with It's
ten thousand times ten thousand grasplng
millions OF cords fastened to the t1bers OF
the hearts OF men, and drawing them
within its dread influence and making OF
them willing subjects.
There are but two positions in the mat
ter, for or against, and we are all taking
sides either directly or passively. He
showed the license law to be wrong. we
have no more right to license men to deal
out destruction to their fellows than we
have to license the virtue Of our wives
and daughters.
He showed the Inconsistency of temper
ance men remaining passive in the matter,
or doing ANYTHING to cast, damper on
the success OF the movement. Inc IN
fluence of one such man against 1t is
greater than scores of those engaged in
the business. Whenever we hear OF a
minister, or any other friend OF temper
ance, saying word against the manner
in which the ladies are conducting the
movement, we see the saloon keepers
using it to justify themselves. This was
enough to convince any one that it is
wrong to be conservative in the matter
He would rather see q man either radl,
cally right or radically wrong, for II
wrong they were open TO conviction, and
il right, ali was well anyway.
the whole address was an earnest
eloquent appeal for the cause of humanity
and temperance, and we have no doubt
but the many thrilling narratives related
and the many telling applications made
will leave a lasting impression on the
minds of those who heard him. May
success attend him in the noble efforts he
is making in the cause. A.