Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1882-04-12
The License Question

Applications for license to sell liquor
were made to the county court on last
Monday. These applications were
earnestly opposed by RObt. barlop,
Esar. counsel for the people opposed
to granting license. After a very
earnest discussion, between Judge II.
c. Allen and Mr. Barton, of the law
governing the case, the court decided
that, under the law, the county court
was compelled to grant license in all
cases where the applicants had cons
plied,vitb the conditions required by
law.
We are not disposed TO question the
correctness of the decision Of the
court. He has examined the law,
listened TO arguments upon both sides
of qestion and rendered his d'cis-
ion. # is cut duty to respect the laws
so lone as 1t is law. 1.-THE law requires
county court 10 grant license for the
retail Of liquors, we believe the law TO
be wrong and while We give it the re-
spect due to every law, we hold that
it is the duty of every man who be-
lieves The selling of whisky to be 40
evil, to use cv,ry means in his power
to have the law changed.
Legislation has evidently protected
the rights of the whisky sellers, but
there is large class CT almost every
community whose rights are not pro-
teced by the law. The poor woman
who is compelled to labor necessarily
to support herself and children, and
cannot with her utmost efforts keep
want from her door and is dependent
upon the charity Of her neigbbors for.
food fer her children, while her hus-
band spends every cent that be earns
il bar-rooms, licensed by law, suffers
from grievous wrong, for which
legislation in Virginia has given her
no remedy. These cases appeal loudly
10 the people for redress. The people
will not be deaf to the cries Of the
poor druDkard's ife and his starving
children. Redress may be slow. but
twill ecme and earnest efforts will be
made by the people to secure 1t.
The opposition to the granting OF
license gave evidence Of the sen'i-
mcnt Of the people uton the subject.
Although only portion of the county
was canyassed, petition containing
the names of over one thousand voters
asking that no license be granted was
presented to tue court. When Mr.
Barton was speaking,it became Decess
sary to check the applause with which
the crowd was disposed to greet bin.
The temperance men have determined
to fight the whisky business, by every
means. They had determined to test
the law, upon the subject. The test
has proved tina. the law is not such as
the people want. With the people
rests the power. They may for a
while be foiled by legislation, but the
issue will be fairly and fully made up,
and by the decision of The people the
question will be finally decided. 10
the mean time, there is mnch to be
done. Let the organizations work
zea'ously for the accomplishment of
the grand purpose 10 view. Let the
law that we now have be fully eufor
ced and every man who hereafter APP
plies for license show that his
house is a suitable place" TO sell
liquor, aud that it has not been rem
eered unsuitable by frequent violations
of law. The temperance mevCment
is a movement of the people The
whisky men have thrown down the
gauntlet and have boldly declared |
'you can't step it," 1t cannot be
stopped only in the sense that muir
der cannot be stopped. This whole
sale distribution of poison Can be
stopped and the people will do it. 1t
is not the work Of day or CT a week.
it NAV rcquirs years, but the subject
has taken hold of tie hearts Of the
people and tbr work will lie done.