West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-03-02
The Possibilities of the Temper.
anee Cause in West Virginia.

Written for the Freeman.
Whatever the diversity of opinion
in regard to a prohibitorv LIQUOR
law, there is one position against
which there can be no dissenting
voice; and that is, that the present
disgraceful state of things in West
Virginia, caused by liquor, ought
to be corrected. 1t is with deliber-
alton that | say no dissenting
voice" | care not how many con-
tradictions the practices of our peo-
pie may offer to this assertion; there
is not in our State a drunkard, |
rum-seller or distiller, who does not
think that this thing ought to be
stopped. However vitiated the de-
sire may be, God has made it for
ever impossible for the soul of man
to commend a thing whose whole
tendency is destructive of happi-
ness, excellence, virtue, morality
qualities which demons as truly as
saints instinctively admire.
Again, an overwhelming MAORI
ty of our people desire this reforma-
ton. 1t is the wish, not only of
the Christian, the moralist, the
philanthropist; not only of the
drunkard's wife in all her suffering
of both body and heart; of the
drunkard's children, ragged, ignor-
ant, disgraced; not only of parents,
the destruction of whose sons is SO
cruelty threatened 1T is the earn
est desire of many drunkard's own
heart. How many pitiable inebri-
ates are there who would rejoice to
see removed from their reach, this
foe which they are now too weak
to resist
If, then, this change is both de-
sirable and desired, why do we not
have it? We could not be expec-
ted to fail of such an end for any
other reason than its impossibility.
Is it impossible? On the contrary,
would there not certainly be success
if those who desire it would deter
mine to have it? None can oppose
it on principle; the true interests
of all are for it; while there are
very small proportion whose tenn
poral interests seem to oppose it.
All the Christianity, all the moral
ity, all the patriotism, favor it while
it is opposed by only the most Grim
inal avarice, and depraved licen-
tiousness. Now, will any one
maintain that such numbers and
such characters as compose the
whisky fraternity could withstand
the united influence and determin-
ed effort of all the decency, morali-
ty, Christianity, patriotism and
philanthropy Of West Virginia?
The case plainly stated is just
this: There are a few of our citi-
zens, who, for the sake of money,
are willing toengage in a business,
than which nothing could be more
nefarious nor more injurious to their
fellow men. With an effrontery
that would put a bronze donkey to
shame, they are violating our laws,
infringing our rights, and cursing
our race. To procure money, for
which they will not do honest work
they are dwarfng industry, retard-
ing progress, burying hopes, blasting
lives, and damning souls. In fact, |
this very inconsiderable minority |
of our citizens, composing the most |
lawless, disreputable and unproft-
able class, demand that the affairs
of the Commonwealth shall be CON
Quoted with reference to their in
iquitous aims.
And, mirdbile dictu, our people,
with all their numbers, influence,
rights, desires and boosted sover-
eighty, are meekly consenting that
it may be even SO. Now, all this
sickly moping and pious whining
about the sad state Of things is a
cowardly and criminal substitute
for the determined (Which means
successfully resistance with which
we ought to oppose this evil. There
are everywhere those who will 90
just as far in vice as public senti-
ment will allow So long as we allow
this traffic, it will be carried on
and when we begin complacently
to connive at theft, polygamy and
these also will prevail
And, deny it as we may, our laws,