The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-03-19
A VOICE FROM AsALOON.KEEPER
a Counter Crusade.

ACounter Crusade.
Editors OF the Register.
Our friends OF the fair sex, who man
ifest such an extreme solicitude for our
temporal and spiritual welfare, will, /
hope, pardon my expressing few re.
Elections which have been suggested by
the hostile attitude which they have
been pleased TO assume towards all who
are honestly and legitimateiy engaged
10 the pursuit OF business which they
nevertheless, see fit to denouuce as
vile traffic. On behalf OF the fraternity
TO which I belong, desire to say that
believing as We all do, in the law Of re-
cip-ocity, we do not propose tina: these
women shall monopolize the privilege OF
an unimpeded attack upon the legal
rights OF others. As they are by no
means faultless, are neither infall bic
nor impeccable, we intend 10 iusugurate
a counter crusade against the many
traits in which reformation is more
sadly needed than It is in the character
OF the business which they have made
the object OF their uuwarganted attack.
Flushed with their apparent success IN
Ohio's small towns, where the traffic is
conducted illicitly, and where, had the
same dealers been engaged in vending
hymn books lllegitimately asimilar pres
sure brought to bear, would have ope>
rated in similar manner, they seem
determined TO have matters as Mr..
Micawber would say, like bull in a
china shop, all their own way"
But we the unhappy garrison. will
endeavor 10 create diversion IN our
favor, by making sortie upon the out
posts of these same crusaders- 1t is a
noticeable TACT, that those who most vi
olently lend their conferences and
persons TO this infringement upon the
rights OF others, are those who most
streuuoualy endeavor to improve upon
the couutenauce and person which
their maker has given them. Probably
in no collection OF representatives OF the
human form divine" could there be
found more artiticislity OF structure
than in body OF these fanatic enthu-
siasts. 1t Is against the powdered,
rouged, and enameled comPleN'ons,
the fictitious hair, the imaginary busts,
aud waspish waists, and against the un-
realuess and deceit which these Imply,
that we will direct our crusade. VS.
protest sgsipst sailing under false col
ors and pretpnses, and we believe that
love OF noioriety, supplemented oy a.
inuste delight for intermeddIing, Is 10
many instances the prompting motive.
III However, these BacchomachlstS
sincerely desire to remedy the evils ars-
ing from the abuse OF alcoholic liquors,
why do they not attempt radical
and permanent cure for the
| ills OF which they COM
plsin? Are they visionary enough 10
dream OF checking the desire for, or the
use Of stimulants by the temporary oc-
c!usion OF a few saloons in Wheeling,
.upposipg for the cake OF argument
that thev were successful in doing so
OF course the superstition that rope
tition OF their Ohio experience will &C.
cur here is preposterous enough, iort'
fed a. the saloon keepers are By q
recognition Of the perfect legitimacy o.
their occupation, and their consequent
pro,ec;ion at the bands OF the law but
are these fanatics ssnguiue enough, OF
rather are they GeIuded eHoug b &c
| imagine that the deprival Of their rights
lin a few Individuals would metsmor'
phoss this !aud into thst Utopia where
.;pl..s bangs abound sni intoxicsilor
j. urleard OF? No plan looking tc
such 9 result is iD the slightest degree
feasible No ore dep!ores more than
the gresi prevalence OF intempeIance
and auv means properly cooductec
which offers possibility OF radical
checking or even OF mitigating tAt
curse o. drunkenness, will have ny
! bert wishes Tor is success. But
differ dramatically with those wh(
conceive that It's Accomplishment Is Il
he achieved by iodiscri inmate warfare
upon 81 saloon keepers. Ninety
nine out OF every one huudTe'
cases OF iuebrle;y ayise from to-
excessive use OF Distilled or alcohoil
il;ouors, aud the efectusi method Q
! dea,.ng with this question IS to d'rt'
consumers OF strong drinks from TIL
Injurious habit to the use ofni!dsr bev
srsces. The universal history OF man
Kind from the earliest periods, ha
taught the ipdi:putable iAct that HI
us,ure Graves 8 siimulant, and giauc
q, the nations now existing on Gu
globe, will show that the most power
tul and enlightened are those whic'
use the mos. Compare, for instance
the condition OF eue!YaIec, ignorsn
and helpless Turkey, whose reIigion De
msuds q total sbsiineuce 10 lie follow