Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1881-03-16
WOODSTOCK, VA. (
March 18Th. 1881. J
Nessrs. Editors {.

tn crJstallze rapidly and assume the
form Of The determined and fully united
''streak of6ghi," as the soldiers used
10 call Stonewall's line of battle. God
knows 1t is time, high time. A few
years ago Our community boasied ofits
morality, especially. oiits comparative
freedom from drunkenness, but alas
lit was only the boasiiug Of the pride
that goeth before fall" TIE sly,
stealthy footsteps Of intemperauce.
scarcely heard at lrst ard totally IN
hee ded, have at last turned 10 the bold,
defiant tread OF conqueror, and ouI
town, like many others, seems to be
helpless in It's iron grip. What shame
iul scenes have we not witnessed i'll the
last twelve months A few years since
we could frequently hear from citizens
and visitors at the close Of a court-day,
such expressions as this ; "There was
large crowd in town and did not SEE
single drunken man." Can any one
say that now? What have been the
closing scenes Of our cOurt-d 'ys during
the last twelve months and particularly
the winter just passed Why we have
seen the people leaving town in crowds
that were reakIng aud steaming with
The liquid dam, alton, drunk almost by
neishbOrhoods, and carrying the effects
OF the internal curse through every road,
lane aud bride path ~ our county. VINO
doubts that The close of each court
day has brought the tears Of shame and
grief to the eyes Of many poor women
and children in Shenandoah. These
drunken men that we see real;hg 10
their saddles or lurching from side to
side along the road, are not all old
topers aud proverbial drinkers. Many
of them, might say the large majority,
are young men. the pride and hope OF
our country. The evil is not confined
alone to the town but is dragging it,
loathsome, slimey form over the fair
fields ofour beautiful country tainting
with its aorrid breath the par ar from
mountain to mountain. The growth OF
this sin in the past four years is simply
monstrous and appalling, speaaing lik'
The prarle FIRE before the nerce winds OF
the West, running riot through all
classes from the highest liz society aud
political position 10 the humblest
breadwinner in the ranks OF the sons Of
toll. The palatial residence of the
rich is invaded ard It's beauty aud peace
DESTROYED, while the mist Of tears from
brOkeAhear,ed women ard children
dim the love aud comfort that made
the losly cot Of the poor man blessed
home. None are safe from its iusid-
eous advances, no one too high. no one
too low for il to draw him into It's
hideoue embrace.
II is not alone in tie ranks Of the
depraved and vicious, its victims are
sought and found, but the brave, the
generous are swept into its jaws and
dragged down. down, down uulil the
become but the noi-ome. rotting gar
bage of the gutter. Is it not time that
right thinking men. men who profess to
believe in and reverence the name OF
the great God OF Heaven aud Earth,
should tremble as they see a nation or
drunkardS marching on them from out
the near future! Is it strange that men
are being aroused as they never were
before, and prompted by every feeling
and instinct they hold most sacred are
banding together as one man tor a des-
perats encounter with this greatest aud
strongest Of all public evils. We re-
jolce % know that the people through
The country are moving in. the matter
aud are coming up TO the help Of their
brethren OF the town. They are speak
ing in no uncertain tones, and in way
that must and will be heard. 1t IS The
common cause Of humanity. In this
fight let no true man hold back his hand
or refrain frum strlekiug with all the
strength God has given him. have
an earnest hope aud faith that our
Corporation Authorities will do their
full duly. Let them make no mistake
but use all The powers with which they
are clothed TO stamp out utterly this
hateful monster. Halfway, illtimed or
uncertain measures will result ia certain
and lrrepsrable disaster to the cause of
temperance. They must strike bodily
and bravely wherever aud whenever the
foul thing dares to rase its head, aud
the good Of the country will rally
around them and the pra yers Of the
women and children will 20 up 10 God
asking blessings on them. Tho man
who refuses to aid in this fight Is the
enemy If his race, clothed in his armor
of selfshness, refusing to take part b.
cause he and his have so Tar escaped
the 6end's snares, will surely lind bis
day Of reckoning. He who refuses TO
save his brothers life IS a murderer, aud
the time will come when he must an
swer for that brothers. blood. TUE
man who wiliully refuses TO give hi
voice or presence to this cause is guilty
already. Fail TO reach forth yonr arm
and dash this cup 10 the earth aud you
are as guilty as he who putteth 1t to his
neighbors lips. The mills Of the Gods
grind slow but they grind exceedingly
small."- &.
Cash paid for produce when requested