The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1875-02-04

Then, like all other ina ginary difficulties they
will disappear as they are confronted bya cour-
ageolss will and determined purpose: 1t is
not the s'times" that consulate the hardship,
but the want of the adaptabilty oflabits to the
times. Let economy and industry be the rul-
ing elements in business and confidence be re-
stored, and it will be found that we have am
pie money in the courltry for all the ends of le-
ultimate trade.
We noticed in a. recent number Of the Page
Courier, an indignant paragraph cal ed forth
by the prevalent liquor drinking in that town.
1t seems that the town council has refused to
grant license to sell liquor within the corpo-
rate limits, but that this prohibition has not
had the effect to abate drunkenness in that
place.
Several years ago. the town council of Har
| risonburg likewise refused license, with q SINH
lar result to that experienced by Luray.
Massachusetts has had a prohibtory liquor
| law upon her stasnte books for years, but the
records of drunkenness show. no diminuton in
the use Of Intoxicating drinks.
/ These several instances may be taken as the
experience generally of CONN mites where
like inhibitions have been enacted. They show
that you cannot legislate successfully against
the appetite for whiskey. Indeed you might
as well attempt to legislate every man into a
christian, as to make drunkard sober man
by statutory enactment.
Liquor drinking and drunkenness therefore
are not regulated by the question Of license or
no license. The liquor is produced and drank,
where there is a desire for it, in defiance of
pYohibtory statutes, and the evil cannot there
fore be successfully re ched By legislation.
Moral suasion, however lightly it may be
treated and jeered at by the thougftless, is the
only agency by which substantial temperance
enters into the consciousness OF a man-that
becomes principle, controlling his action and
habits, and it is only by the force and power of
conriction that any permanent reformation can
be consunrnatcd. We ale not, therefore, of
those who, while favoring practical temperance,
conceive it to be a duty to denoance those who
are engaged in the liquor traffic under the sane
ton OF law, and in conformity to law. 1t is
better for the community that the traffic should
drinking should pervade ia evasion and def
ance OF law.
The correction Of the great evil of liquor
drinking does not lie in the fact of prohibition
by statute. 1t stands upon higher ground, and
appeals to nobler sentiment. It is the con-
yiction of its wrong in a moral, as we'll as a
physical sense-a prohibition that arises from
the consciousness of its Iarmfulness, and con-
forming to public sentiment that detests it as
a moral evil-that omes from the man him
self, striving to fuf his mission as q usefu
member Of community. That is the kind of a
| prohibition that meaas genuine reform and
substantial progress in temperance. Educate
the head and the heart right and there will be
no necessity for prohbitory statutes, for each
man then will have within him a law that is
higher and more enduring than parchment, and
more sacred than legislative prescription.
While these are our views as to this particll-
lar phase of the temperance question, we are
net insensible to the devastation and ruin that
are sweeping over the country by reason of in
temperance = blasting the brightest hopes,
paralyzing the most brilliant intellects, per-
yerting the most generous natures, and crowd
! ing the avenues Of crime and restitution, If is
cause grand enough in its aim to stimuat,
the most earnest efforts of every good citizen.
| to the end that proper influences may be
brought to bear upon the young and impressi-
| Bile to warn thenlfrom the dangers that threat
Ell thems Example and gentle monition are
stronger arguments than legislative resolves
and fierce hustings ;denunciation.. The COM
blned efforts Of the temperance societies, prop
ery and nationally employed, prayer meetings,
| the pulpit and christian associations of all dss-
criptions, may create and educate popular
sentiment that will not only have a healthy
influence upon the present, but reach out into
| the flr future, carrying the sanetfying infu--
| ence Of its moral power to generations to
come.
It is proper to say that the above article was
prepared before the action Of the City council
on the Sunday law, and has no reference to.
that matter. We approve the Sunday law.
-----s
The Beecier-I'ilton SANDER suit is still enga--
ging the attention ofthe court and the people
in Brooiiyn,'N. y. The argument on the ad-
instability OF Tilton's evidence was very ably
COatidSLci OIL uolH siu5S, ME. LNdTtS represent
ting Baecher. and Dir. Pryor, Tilton... The
Judge ruled to admit the evidence Mr.. Til
toa then gaze minute history of all the Cir
cumstances aud facts connected with the cause
Of the suit. We think, Bcecher is as guilty
man as ever rested under-a charge of any kind.
We have purposely kept from our columns the
details Of the trial and shall continue to do
se..
The biggest brain that has been developedin
this remarkable case is that Of Frank D. Moul-
CON- the mutual friend. He has more sense,
and knows better how,to use it, than both plain
titf,EdefenaaHt aud counsel on both sides have
as yet exhibited.
TINRERING THE CoNsTITUIToN.7The Con-
SENTATIVE members Of the Legislature are still
engaged in devising methods to tear the Con-