Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-03-29

Nessrs. Editors: Will you give
Reaninster space in loar paper Tor 'he
purpose Of saying few words on The
subject Of Local option | am and have
been Readjusier from the begnning
of the light, and it is with surprise and
sorrow that l fiud the Vir9tn'an' one
of the leading papers of our party TAX
ING the stand it does on this vital ques-
ton in its issue of March l7th. ms
cannot be made party question, and
if our leaders and organs try to make II
such it will disrupt the party. Inc 'n-
sldeous attempt 10 make 1t appear thal
this fight against whisky isa funder
dodqe is an insult to the good sense OF
every man in our party. If we must
fight Local Option and array ourselves
Ia line with the whisky men in order to
prove our loyalty TO the principles OF
establishment, then 1t is about Time Tor
all who have families 10 raise, bread to
win, selfrespect to maintain and soul
to save, to step down and ont of the
party. The cry Of Funder, Funder,
Bourbon, Bourbon, has blinded US too
much already. and caused US, as mem
bers of the party, to give active support
or silent appreciation TO measures and
men until we have strained our sense OF
right and wrong almost 10 the breaking
point. 1t is TOO thin TO try 10 this tight.
Too much use has worn holes in 1t
through which the rank and file can
peep occasionally and seellhelr leaders
doing some not over nice things. We
are not all blind nor are we all so filled
with late aud fanaticism as to be will
INC TO do our fellow man any and every
injury simply because he differs with us
a State financial policy. We are getting
a little too much niger IN ours as we
move along, too much fiery hate and
bitter partizanism for US who do not
want or expect office. We can't al
together forget that the vast majority Of
our opponants are willie men, and our
leaders had better remember that blood
is thicker than water But l am GO
ing of from the main question Now
lust let our leaders try what they seem
about ready to do, and make whisky the
war cry Of the party if they want to see
that same party fly of into space like
the fragments OF an exploded SHE'LL
7 have talked this whisky question
over with number Of readiusters. and
tell yon the party lash will utterly
fail to make hundreds of the best men
ID our party in this county keep step
TO the music of the rumsellers march.
How cruelty cold blooded it sounds to
speak of lhis suffice, in connection with
riyenue. The sum Of 5000 900 in State =.
county aud corporation taxes, is - be
put up a. au offset, money atone
mcnt for all the awful misery and sin
caused by this feartul trade. only
5000 900 Of blood money! Great God.
that human souls should rate so cheap.
Is it any wonder that the dend5 OF Hell
laugh 10 see men propose TO raise
rerenue for public purposes by coming
drum kard's souls, wOmens tears, little
childreDs empty stomachs and naked
limbs, maniac's screams and murderer's
blood into dollars. But we must not
cry out against this thing or raise a
hand to fight it for lhat would be
faaaticism. Merciful God! send us
whole armies Of such fanatics that we
may fight this hellisb traffic until it will
no longer dare TO show It's brutal face
N a single spot in oar land.
Mr.. Editor, do not agree with You
on the State debt question, but in your
fl ght against rum in all It's forms, l and
hundreds Of my bother readjusters Of
Shenandoah are with you 10 the last
link, and wish You God speed in your
noble work. Don't let 1t flag for the
people are in desperate earnest.
a READJUsTER.