West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-05-04
TWO TERRIBLE VICES.

most excellent editorial under the
above caption, which is so pertinent
and appropriate to the situation IN
Parkersburg, that we cannot Go
better than to serve our readers lib
orally of it, without essaying to con-
dense or elaborate.
These two vices are lntemper-
ance and prostitution, and they are
threatening to make a perfect Sod
ON of our city. They 60 hand IN
hand, and mutually support each
other. They are the sum of all
denominations, and plunge their
victims to the lowest hell. To seek
the things of the world is earthly"
to seek the qualification of the lusts
of the flesh is Sensual; )" but to
seek the ruin of others is "devilish."
Those who keep liquor saloons and
those who keep houses Of prostltu-
ton are certainly the best remind
ers earth can afford of chin who
goeth about seeking whom he may
devour." 1t is hard to conceive OF
anything more fendish than to toll
men and women along to ruin for
the sake of getting their money.
How terrible are the words of Christ
to all such: aye serpents, we gener-
alton of vipers, how can ye escape
the damnation of help
But we must not seem to excuse
those who become the victims of
these dens of iniquity. Their wick
edness is only exceeded by that of
their tempters. A drunkard is some
times referred to as the genial,
good-hearted fellow, whose drunk
en- debauchery is simply an evil
dence of his generosity. But this
only renders his iniquity the great
er. TO misapply and debase such
noble talents, is among the blacklist
of human sins. Unto whom much
is given, Of him will the more be
required. But what shall we say
of those who, with eyes full of
adultery" visit those "houses which
are the way to hell" Words are in
adequate to express the shameful
enormity of their crimes; and they
are bringing upon themselves a
swift and terrible destruction.
Ore of these vices is sanctioned
by law /; the other is not, Thank
God. good citizens are not compelled
to go into partnership with houses of
ill-fame by receiving part Of the
profits as revenue. We are some
times compromised by vile and un-
faithful officers of the law, but we
are not responsible for that, unless
we carelessly tolerate such unfaith
full servants.
But we are partners in the liquor
traffic. We make it lawful for men
to deal out destruction to all whom
they may be enabled to entice into
their saloons. We have no better
sense than bargain with them, that
they may ruin our people, put us
to thousands of dollars expense and
take thousands of dollars from the
people without giving them any
thing profitable in return, if they
will only give us a few hundreds in
revenue
But what will our Commissioners
(and CounciD do? What is the
will of their constituents
They are the representatives of
the whole people. There are some
who are in favor of the traffic. We
are sure there are many more who
are positively against the traffic
while, perhaps, a majority of the
people are Indifferent, who would
really prefer the abolition of the
traffic, but are ready for anything
that will seem to supply a present
want. No one doubts that the very
best people Of the community de-
plore the existence of the traffic,
and are opposed to making it a le-
gal business. Why should our
Commissioners ignore the express
ed wishes of the most respectable,
stop their ears to the groans of the
greatest sufferers, be needless to the
best interests of the Indifferent, and
yield to the demand of a small mi
nority whose business is ruinous to
the Commonwealth? Are the
whisky men the only people whose
wishes are to be respected?