West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1881-05-25
The Coming State Temperance
Convention.
Ey Prof p b. Reynolds, President Of
Shelton College, ,..

Ienboro' as '''the first gun of the
siege after the repulsc." ] would
rot call the failure to get the pro-
hibition amendment adopted by the
Legislature LAST winter a repulse.
1t was not IA rypulse, but an armistice.
This arm;stice, am persuaded,
was an exceedingly fortunate thing
for the prohibitionists and an ex-
ceedingly unfortunate thing for the
anti prohibitionists. The thor
oughncss and permanency of the
results of the prohibition move
mont depend upon solid work.
Solid work will give success, but
solid work requires time. The sue
cess of this movement depends upon
20 transient enthusiasm or excite
ment. Its strength will inevita-
bly increase with fair, thorough,
persistent agitation. In this it is
very unlike many issues that must
be settled by the suhrages of the
people. If they get cool, they die.
IL the people are allowed to think,
they discover their shallowness and
grow weary of them. The more
they are looked into the less there
ia found in them. But in the case
ofthis prohibition question, the re-
verse of all this is true Time for
elaboration increases it's vitality.
The more the people are allowed to
think, the more they become inter
ested in it. The more it is inves-
tigated, the more important it is
seen to be- This is because it rests
upon such solid foundations-be-
cause it is so intimately connected
with the best interests of the
people-because it appeals to the
judgment and conscience of all en-
lightened, substantial citizens, and
demonstrates its claim to the sup
port of all classes of society. A thing
that has it's roots in the fertile soil
of true patriotism, sound political
economy, and genuine Christianity
needs no artificial, hasty, dollhouse
culture. .ar
Therefore, I consider it fortunate
that the action of the Legislature
in postponing the question last
winter has given time to develope
more fully the inherent strength
of prohibition. The thing might
have been rushed through so pre-
maturely as to have defeated some
of the best results expected from
it. If the time given by the post
ponement shall only be utilized, we
have not lost anything but have
gained much. The additional work
necessary for getting the question
before the people will be found the
very best possible preparation for
carrying it by the people, And all
this work for getting prohibition
to a vote, and for getting prohibit
tion carried by the vote, will be
found highly useful in sustaining
and enforcing prohibition when we
get it,
The work of our coming State
Convention will be to provide for a
thorough agitation of this question.
Such means must. be adopted, such
organization effected, as will insure
its being brought fairly and fully
before the people, and kept there un-
til the contest is over. This done,
victory is certain. Much can be
accomplished by existing temper
anee organizations in the exercise
of their usual methods of work.
But we must avail ourselves of the
usual popular and efficient means
of agitation, the press, the mass
meeting, the stump. These, indus
triously piled, will be found ade-
quate to the work, and the problem
for the Convention to solve will be,
How can we secure their services
So far as the press is concerned,
Tins part of the problem, | am hap
ply Ito say, presents but little diff
Guilty. The FREEMAN, already con-
seerated to this cause, will serve our
purpose admirably 1t only needs
to be stuffed with prohibition in
formation, arguments, appeals,
and scattered broadcast over the
State, By subscriptions, gratuitous
distribution, or whatever necessary
means, it ought to be put into the
hands of every voter in West Vir-
ginia. If the people can be induced
e .ood +bo litaraturp this uueStiOn