The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1881-04-28
The Temperance Question.
Messrs. Editors Vsrysmaan:-

Messrs. Editors Vsaysaaan:-
In your paper of 18th inst, in an article on
Temperance Reform" occurs the following
statement, 1.-The legislature Of Kansas has
adopted stringent liquor law, more exacting
than the Maine liquor law, even going so far
as to inhibt the use of wine at the sacrament"
From the North Carolina Presbyterian of April
9th, 1881, clip the inclosed, which you will
please publish in you paper OF this week. The
statement Of Gov. st. John is certainly author
itave and must stop the charge of interfering
with the sacred rites of churches.
If not asking too much, | would be glad to
have you republish, under Gov. St. Johns
letter, the Temperance Story" on fourth page
of your last weeks issue.
Permit me to say that the temperance move
ment now on foot is not one gotten up by en-
thusiasts. 1t is the bona-fide citizens and tax
payers, and Well-wishers of their fellow men,
who haye taken hold of the question of
licensed liquor selling as beverage, and they
are determined to try a different way. They
want only facts; they are gathering these and
publishing them. Enough has been ascer
tanned from Maine to prove conclusively that
her liquor law has been of great financial bene
fit to the state and minor corporations, to say
nothing of the moral advantages. Potter Co.,
Penn, furnishes interesting facts.
Every town, village and country store,
where liquor is sold as beverage, furnishes
its facts against the sale. I have seen, in your
county, a poor man who had but one COW,
barter the butter his wife had made from that
one coao for intoxicating drink, when his wife
and children were clothed in rags and hungry.
As regards those who are engaged in the
manufacture and sale, they can take cafe of
themselves.
1t is fact beyond the need of proof, that
hundreds of the best men in the Valley were
at one time engaged in the manufacture and
retail of ardent spirits. Nearly every energetic
farmer had his distillery, and disposed Of his
surplus grain and fruit in this way, but they
quit the business (nearly every one) because
convinced it was injurious, morally and finan-
cially, to the country. | have talked with
many Of them and never met with one who
regretted having stopped the manufacture,
sale and use. Some have told me they thought
they were making sacrifice for a principle
and had found out afterwards that instead of
a sacrifice of interest it had been an advantage,
financially.
For example, the late Mr. S. NJ, of Lynch
burgh, once told me that at one time he con-
trolled the liquor trade of the waters of the
James, above Lynchburg, and Rockbridge and
Botetourt counties, manufacturing largely The
late Rev. W. L. White, d. D., happened to
visit Lynchburg and preach on Heb. 10. L.
LcI US ooluC ONCly WOlSut, w. Lie
spoke of the impediments many christians
were Numbering themselves with Gin the
race" He DIES cribed one carrying a load of
whisky barrels. My informant remarked a
very inconvenent burden Said he, Il was
troubled; went home, but not to sleep, until
the matter of the whisky barrels was settled.
1t was my trade, mainly; had a family to
support and did not know in what to engage
Monday morning came, and early was at the
store and prepared for work. l knocked in
the head of every liquor barrel belonging to
myself, and wrote my friends who sent to me
on consignment, Your liquor is in my ware
house subject to your order, please remove;
will receive or sell no more.'b Well Mr.. NJ,
what did you lose by it? Mr.. MI did not
make as much the first year, but the second
cleared three thousand dollars more than had
done in any previous year and had besides all
the time clear conscience" God greatly
blessed my old friend in his christian comfort,
in his family and worldly affairs, and made
him blessing to the church of his choice and
to Others. He has entered upon his reward.
Would that all in our commonwealth who are
engaged in the traffic of liquors, would initiate
his example, and lay aside ''the aoeights" and
select some other business, and such as would
foster the interests of their communities II
not determined effort is on foot, legdlly, to
put stop to the manufacture and sale of in
toxicating liquors as beverage. AS to the
use of alcohol in medicine and the arts, this is
outside Of temperance REFORM
Yours truly,