The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1878-04-04
The Opium SANDER.


that the reports are not true. There is
scarcely day that a batch of circulars are
not sent through the mails to this place ad-
vertising remedies for the habit. Letters
quiry as to the truth of the statements made
as to the prevalence of the use OF the drug
and two physicians have already visited us,
who have made the cure of the habit spe-
cialty. with view to offering their services
to any so afflicted. One of them did not re-
main more than twenty four hours, being
convinced of the falsty of the accusation,
after conversing with a number OF our citi-
zens, while the other remained eight or ten
days without finding any patients. Yet the
impression is spreading that we have a large
number of opium-eaters here, if we are to
Judge by the number OF circulars and pamph-
lets sent here protesting to have an infalli-
BILE remedy for the habit. Letters have been
received from Vermont and California, from
persons who visited Staunton, making anX
ious inquiry as to the truth OF the reports A
lady writes us from San Francisco, evident
ly indignant that such a SANDER should find
currency, saying that she knows it is a false
hood, and that if some of the people Of
Stanton do not interest themselves to cor
rect the fabrication she will do so herself.
A paper has been handed us published in
San Francisco, of wide circulation, which
contains paragraph of shout thirty lines,
containing at least as many misrepresenta-
tons. Another paper, with an article of
similar character, has been shown us, pub
!ished in New England. While the SANDER
is thus circulated in every nook and corner
in the United States, carrying along with it
great injury to this community, our own
people seem to have subsidized into coma
tose state in reference to it, resting under
the delusion that as we know ourselves the
utter falsity of the statement, others ought
to be equally we'll satisfied about it. This
is mistake. We do not know the extent of
the effect of the falsehood, and it is duty
each citizen owes himself to counterfeit the
injurious report. We have no particular
method to suggest to carry out this view !;
but each individual can do something to aid
in correcting the wrong impression. The
principal CT one OF our female schools has, as
we learn, sent circular letter to each one
OF its patrons, very fully contradicting the
SANDER. All the others might with profit
pursue similar course, for it is with these
schools that the greatest harm is to be appre
hended. While we ourselves may think the
matter is ''dying out" and that soon i. will
be forgotten, the hundreds Of circulars which
are being sent here in reference to it, from
different States, evidences that it is still a
live subject elsewhere and in localities where
it is not to our interest it should be so.
With the exception Of the action of the drug
gists, no formal protest has been made to
the SANDER, save the several newspaper ar
ticles suggested ON the occasion Of the pub
LEGATION of the proceedings Of the meeting Of
the druggists, and the circular letter from
one of the schools. The subject should not
be allowed to rest here, but persistent en-
deavor encouraged to arrest the effect of the
SANDER so long as letters and publications
are received, showing other people are
thinking about it.
No community was ever so cruelty and
wickedly slandered as has been this by this
opium eating sensation, and the heartless
fabrication should be met in all the forms
the ingenuity of our people can suggest,
otherwise we may in time realize far more
damage than we at present anticipate.
The Iron Interests.
The second letter of Mr.. T. L. Moore, the
correspondent of the Iron Age, giving an
account of his visit to Virginia and West
| Virginia, and the result of his examinations
and observations of the mineral wealth of
| the two States, will be found in to-day's
VIRGINIAN. Very few of our own citizens
have proper conception of the immense
value of the mineral resources Of this Sec
| ton. and those localities naturally contribu-
| ting their trade to this central point. Nor
| is it generally known elsewhere that such
deposits of coal exist in Virginia and West
| Virginia as the letter describes, and we can
not refrain from again expressing our thanks
to Mr.. Moore for the valuable Information,
so intelligently collated and presented,
| which he communicates to the great Iron
Journal, of which he is the trusted CORE
| spundent. With the information contained
| in the articles Mr.. Moore has prepared and
published and will yet prepare and publish,
oh inn fta vyif oir nf rpa6 w
to the Iron Age as the standard authority in
such matters, it is reasonable to suppose
that attention will be directed to the fields
of enterprise described, and that great good
will result to Virginia and West Virginia,
though the Investments of capital for the
development and utilization OF these Won
derful riches.
Already are the fruits OF these publications
being shown in the active inquiry now 60
ing on as to Virginia minerals. Capitalists
from every portion OF the North ard East,
who have made the iron business study,
and giving much thought to the information
recently sent abroad, and the conclusion is
almost universally expressed that the time
is not distant when this portion of Virginia
must become great iron manufacturing
district, because of the many natural ad-
vantages it possesses.
The article of Mr.. Moore will well repay
perusal, for it contains facts which all in
telligent citizens should acQuaint themselves
with, and be prepared to impart them to
others who may not be so fortunate as to
see the communication.
The Great "Reformer.
The true character OF Governor 1ilden,
the recent Democratic candidate for Presi-
dent, is beginning to be understood by the
Democratic press which SO vociferously pre-
sented him as the model reformer two years
ago. Considering the suit for $l3S,00O by
the government for evaded income tax,
which it is now pretty certain he will have
to pay, the Petersburg Luder Appeal, one
of the fercest Democratic moral reform
shriekers in the last Presidential canyass,
says: "[gnoring the question of personal