Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1881-02-09
THE TEMPERANCE QUESTION.

a
Want to Prohibit the Liquor Traffic.
Editor OF the Register.
Mr.. Campbell, OF the Iateliigencer,
seems to have openly defined his posi-
ton in regard 10 temperance. tie IS no
anti.temperanCe no hallway, hut
strict teetotsler. We are sorry, still we
can not help it, We don't like people
who attempt to make other peoples
acts and views subordinate to thelroHni
"a. hold the view that everybody Is re-
spOnsible for his own acts, that such is
prompted mostly by personal, Tree ana
unconstrained will. We claim, hoWeV'
er, the privilege OF defending our acts
and views and if possible remove such
obstacles by the means OF which acts OF
our personal liberty will be impeded.
Mr. Campbell informs us OF the fact that
the petitions now before the legislature,
Drawing for the prohibition oil the whole
iiouor traffic, bear the signatures
of nineteen Thousand respectable
residents of this State. We want
10 remind our informer that TINS
nusaber does not by any means const-
tute a majority OF the pOpulace OF tins
State but is only one twelfth OF Her
number; that, furthermore, very few
voters are among them; that great
many siSners thereof are not OF age anu
a great many small children who APP
pended their names not even being
cOynitive of the true inwardness OF the
documents. To illustrate my asser-
ton. | beg to relate the experience that
a neighbor of mine had. Some evening,
about week or so ago, his wife inform
ed him that she had during his absence
ON that day signed petition and that
the hired girl and niece signed 1t also.
Well, what petition was IL! lnelien
the husband" 1t was petition that
no drunkard can obtain any wnlsKey'
innocently. retOrted the wife, The
husband then knew the sort oil petl;lol
his wife, hired girl and little neice hai
signed and began to explain the rue
object OF the same, rcproachlng hlS
wife Tor her rashnesS. The
lady was really very sorry
AS she would not by any means see her
husband deprived OF glass OF beer, he
never having been an excessive partaker
OF anv beverage, and she had not been
aware that also the prohibition Oh beer
was meant.
Consider general vote pro and con on
the LIQUOR traffic taking place, supposlng
that such trails was abolished by a pop
ular State vote, would the true senti-
ment of the people come 10 light?
Would this show the sentiments OF the |
majority of people residing IN Wheel !
ing or vicinity? Not by any means, !
owing possibly TO the Tact that this CITY
would not be as conycrsant with the !
production of applejack and hard cider
as some of the back counties. Are the |
laws in most OF the counties not already
shaped 50, forbidding the traffic? Nh.
Campbell, take in consideration or
cite to us some statistics COM
paring the State of Wisconsin, the |
most liberal State, and Massachusetts, |
the most prohibitory State, in regard TO |
the LIQUOR traffic, Let us have a state
ment of the crimes prevailing and pow |
ertv, yagrancy, illteracy, insanity and |
pauperism existing in these states ow-
ing 10 the sale OF beer and wine? How |
can public sentiment justly be tested by !
the proposed State vote in each county, |
city. village, &c? The Ohio laws are |
not by any means passed and probably |
never will be. The people over there |
have pulled off their blue stockings and |
are too intelligent as not TO see the un- |
avoidable results, caused by such |
schemes fostered only by very small |
portion Of her people. How do all these !
attempts of the temperance people orig |
mate? Why does it happen that no !
counter petitions have been presented |
to the Legislature? Simply, because the |
whole petitions have been secretly and !
a long lime previously distributed for
signatures and are now sprung upon
the people unaware. Meetings are held,
speeches are made, members oil the Leg
islature arebull-dozed and great halloh
generally caused to rush the thing
through the House ere the eyes of the
opponents are opened to see the real
status quo. In very short time
counter petitions could number even
more signatures. 4 great many adults
and children whose names are also on the
present lists would also sign another
paper advocating reverse legislation,
some by the impulse OF novelty, others
because they did not comprehend their
former acts OF signing. The nineteen
thousand people are ali respectable, no.
body else IS, suppose, notwithstanding
that some nOn-sgners would compare
iavorably with some agitators as to not
having worn striped pants, not having
been drunkards nor been in scrapes, Ia
pisssic,u ds femr,s. Who will pay the
cost of holding special elections for ex-
penments? How much would such eX-
pertinent cost? Will there not next be
the abolition OF tobacco in any shape and
special elections held 20 determine thisT
Who will buy the farmers grain and to.
hacco? Take history in consideration.
Did beer and wine cause as much muir
der and riot as false doctrines OF the