The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1877-04-26
An ImDortant Moyement.

An oxchangein speaking Of Che
Murphy movement says it is com
monty acknowledge that the topper
ance crusade which was carried on SO
vigorously four years ago was unwise-
" conceived, unskillfully managed,
and on the whole unproductiye. 1t.
wrought little good save the creation
of enthusiasm and the demonstrat-
ion of the fact that enthusiasm which
found VENT in meetings that obstruct-
ed thoroughfares, and which interfer-
ed with lawful business upon the
pretense Of praying for those who
were engaged in it, was SO much
good power wasted. A new temper
ance movement has been started in
the West which seems destined to-
turn popular enthusiasm to better
account. The leader is Francis Muir
ply, an Irishman of abou! forty years
of age and reformed drunkard, who
is said to possess rare power in
swaying men and rare executive
ability in directing their action
His first notable success was achieved
in Pittsburg, where he gained $1,000
converts to temperance, and he is
now carrying on an active campaign
in Ohio, a State which seems to be,
rs ripe for all refornatOry schemes as
New England was twenty years ago.
Every town which he has visited
is in a blaze of zeal. He does not
aim at making men temperate by
attacking liquor,dealerS, but by APP
pealing to each individuals man
hood as the source of self-control,
holding ourselves, and not our neigh
bors, responsible for our conduct
His theory is that We should com
mand our appetites apd that the on
ly temperance worth having is not
that which results from taking away
opportunities to drink, but. that
which results from ability to rule
the desire to drink Even the pledge
which converts sign is moderate in
its terms, and closes with the solemn
,proviso, Sod helping me- Those
who enlist in the movement wear a.
blue ribbon as a badge, and wherever
Murphy has gone the signs of his
presence areas plenty g violets in
the spring,
There can be only one npinion as
to.the evils of intemperance. Itsun5
dormincs individual character. doso-
lates families and endangers society.
With 1.-THE sin Of political dishonesty
it shares the evil prominence of be-
ingea vice characteristic of our age.
All thoughtful men dread its preva-
lence and study anxiously how its
progress may be checked; but hereto
fore little has been accomplished, be-
cause fanatics have insisted upon
regulating human appctites by stat
ute-counteracting sin by striking
at the result of it, and neutralizing
cause by removing its effect. They
have sought to make men temperate
by muzzling them. When disguised
with the folly of such reformcrs it is
a relief to see a man go straight to the
heart of the difficulty and attempt to
fortify human nature against the
temptation to drink by showing the
dangers Of drunkenness and appeal
ing to every sentiment of interest
and honor against it.
Murphy's movement seem TO be
perfectly legitimate one, touching
upon morals not politics, and inter
fcring with the rights of no man
and no class. SO long us it remains
so, right-mindod people will wish it
God.specd. Like a religious revival,
this temperance revival may not
leave such noble results behind as
those engaged in it expect, but no:
all the good accomplished in the cx.
citcmcnt will be lost in the reaction.
Something will be won permanently.
We progress by series of advance
ments and retrogrossions, like waves
on the shore, but though falling back
ward after each rush forward, we arc
continually gaining ground.
---=.-.--n-
The Certificates received by the
Clerk of the House to date show that
there will be 147 Democrats and 1877
Republicans whose seats arefree from
contest. leaving nine cases Of contest
and indicating q Democratic majority