The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-12-29
Removing National Evils.


The history OF the abolition party is in
in that it teaches the Influence OF
moral forces operating upon the public
mind, educating public opinion aud effect
ing beneficent results. In its institution it
was weak, despised and denounced as the
sum of all evils, and even in the land of
STEADY habits, > where it had its origin, its
enemies were as pronounced and demon
strative as they were in the Southern
States, where property rights were to be
affected. Those who first espoused the
idea of abolitionism did it from a deep
rooted conviction of the evil OF chattel
slavery, and it was the impelling force of
this conviction that nerved their hearts to
the great work that to-day presents its con-
summation in four millions of former slaves
with their shackles broken and their perso-
nal freedom assured. Denounced as fanat-
icism, derided as the visionary dream Of
optimists, yet the little band of abolition
lists kept the paramount fact prominent,
that slavery was moral and social curse,
which should be cured, and the protection
givensit BY the constitution removed. SO
that the national escutcheon might be
washed of the stain it inflicted.
We refer to this small thing in the be-
ginning and to the great moral and social
triumph which resulted from the agitation,
as illustrative of the resistless power of
moral forces moving against traditional
preiudices, statutory safeguards and even
constitutional guardianship. No great
moral reform was ever effected without ag-
itation. and even excessive prejudice in its
support, and public opinion can never be
properly educated up to the standard of a
genuine christian civilization unless diff
culties are encountered to draw out the en-
orgies and deepen the convictions which
control in the movement. The very OBJ
structions which have to be overcome and
the preiudices subdued. give vitality TO the
efforts of those who undertake the work, and
it is only through such ordeals that errors
growing out OF ignorance or the miscon-
ceptions arising from long usage. can be
corrected. It is difficult, to measure the
courage of those who organized themselves
into small band of agitators to remove
the blight OF chattel slavery, when we re-
fleet with what they had to contend. The
institution of slavery was co-existent with
the government of the colonies. and the
formation of the Union. 1t was guarded
by the Constitution of the country, and in
terwoven with the social and industrial fax
ric of more than half of the original States.
The great mass of the people had been ed
ucated to believe that it was divine Or
dainment-so educated without reflection,
or that searching inquiry which would have
lead them to grasp the moral aspect OF the
case. 1t was regarded as right that crea-
lures endowed by their Creator with mind
and soul, should be kept in perpetual vas
salage. shrouded in the intensest moral and
intellectual darkness, without the privilege
OF learning their duty to their fellow-men
or to the Author of their Being. or to CON-
prehend their destiny. The sacred rite of
marriage, binding heart to heart and life to
life, and receiving its inspiration from
Heaven, was regarded, as to them, as a
mere mockery, a passing expedient TO graf
ify sensual lusts, and invested with none of
the high moral Influences and tender rela-
| tions which should exist between man and
| wife. 1t was crime, by statute, for the
| negro to learn to read, precaution, proba-
| bly,, against enlightening his understanding
| to a comprehension of the possibilities OF
| life and the development of those attri-
butes which had been implanted in him
for sacred and useful purposes and ends.
| 1t was this education, crystalized into
usage, statutes and Constitutions for two
hundred years, that the abolitionsts deter
| mined should be unlearned. The history OF
the struggle is familiar to the worll and
its achievements, the grandest trophy that
ever crowned the efforts of any body OF
men since the dawn of civilization.
This train Of thought is merely predatory
| to another moral force that is soon to en-
gage the attention of the American people.
| The first important step in the movement,
| was taken by Hon. Fl. w. Blair. of New
Hampshire, in 1876, by the introduction of
joint resolution in Congress, as an amend
ment to the Constitution. for the preven-
ton of the distillation of spirits after the
year 1900. The date itself and the argl-
ments offered in support of the proposit ion.
indicate the methods to be adopted for the
accomplishment of the end proposed. 1t
was to interfere with no vested rights, to
enforce 70 sumptuary enactments, but to
educate the people up to the great crime of
intemperance and prepare them for the ac-
ceptance of the provisions of the resolu-
tions when the time should come for their
practical recognition. Whatever may have
been thought of the proposition at the time
it was presented we are inclined to the be
lief that the discussion of the subject will
arouse an interest in it, which will grow as
time progresses, and like all other moral
reforms, take hold of the popular conscious
ness in such Il comprehensive manner as
to eventually encompass the purpose de-
signed.
Mr.. Blair argues the necessity of such an
amendment to the Constitution with great
force and power, adducing the testimony of
scientific men to show the harmful effects
of alcoholic liquors upon the tenure OF life !;
its impa irment of the vital forces of the
human constitution and the great injury
entailed upon children whose pa rents are
addicted to its excessive use. Evidence is
furnished by the research of eminent medi-
cal men to show that half OF the insanity
in the United States is caused by the intern
perate use of distilled spirits; that it short
ems the average of life; breeds crime and
pauperism, and intiiets society with the
greater portion of its malades and curses
In an economical sense it is demonstrated
that it costs more to meet the demands of
this cultivated appetite than it does to sup
port the entire machinery of government
State and National. DR.. liargreaves esti-
mates that there was expended for intoxi-
eating drinks in the years of 1869, 1870, 1871
and 1872, 81. 729, 1873. 700, or yearly average
of $682, 296, 677, and that since 1872 the an
nual average will reach 500, ,O0O-an
annual average per capita expenditure of