West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-04-04
Observation-Disclosures
CORRESPONDENCE.
What We Think of it.
BARE FORK, Jackson Co.
March 20, 1888.

which | live, it would seem that
we had no use for law prohibit
ing the manufacture and sale of
strong drink, as there are no saloons,
and but little, ifany, whisky drank.
But when we pull on our Sunday
breeches and step out a short dis
lance from home, we find that
something is needed to prevent
men from making demons Of them
selves, and degrading their fam
lilies by drinking the Internal stuff.
And we believe that legal prohibi-
ton is the only means by which
this end can be accomplished. We
believe, also, that when the whisky
traffic ceases, men will cease to
murder their friends, abuse their
families and degrade themselves.
AS for the nature Of this traffic
there can not be at the present day,
great difference ofopinion. 1t is
an unquestionable fact that the
sale Of liquors has ever, in all
places and under all ties,
been attended with the most disas-
trous consequences to individuals,
families, neighborhoods and States.
Reliable statistics demonstrate be-
yond the possibility of a doubt, that
the whisky traffic has resulted in
evil, and only evil in all lands. We
may ;ss3crt that there never was q
grog-shop on the face Of Gods green
earth that did not produce irrepar-
able mischief, no matter how hon
est the intention Of the occupant,
or how we'll guarded by law. We
ask our fellow citizens to trace the
history of those distillers and liquor
dealers with whom you have been
acquainted and ascertain whether
a large majority Of them have not
been seriously injured if not entire
ly ruined in business and charac-
ter or greatly cursed in family re-
lations.
When you have seriousl y consid-
cred the matter, you will conclude
that Jehovah did not utter an W.
meaning sentence when he said,
"Woe unto him that giveth his
neigh Dor drink"
Notwithstanding this declara-
ton, men are licensed by law to sell
the poison to their neighbours This
is inconsistent with the civil rights
of man. All men have certain in
alienable rights among which are
those Of defending life and liberty,
acquiring, possessing and protect
ing property, and of seeking and
obtaining happiness.
Does not the whisky traffic inter
fere with these inalienable rights
Of every man, woman or child in
tbs State?
It has been said that whisky will
not hurt any one if he let it
alone. But this1 villainously false,
for those who let it alone are fire.
qurntly, if not generally, the great
est suff trcrs. The wife and child
ri dlunkard, the father Of II
druukrn son, feel more k"enlv the
serp ,it's bite and the ad,lers sting,
than the victims Jhemsel
ORIGIN OF LICENSE.
The license law originated in the
idea that the traffic was wrong, and
that it must be restrained. The
mistake has ever been in supposing
that licensing wrong would re-
strain it. Who would think for a
moment of licensing a breach of
the ten commandments? Theft
and adultery are just as proper sub
jects for the regulation of law by
license as the whisky traffic. I'm
der the present authorized system,
this vice has grown to its present
fearful extent.
Houses of pollution, shame and
death are located all along the
highways by law, and here it is
that the young, the old, the idle
and middle aged congregate; and
here it is that crime of every kind
is generated. These places are the
training grounds by which our jails
are filled with inmates, as if it was
the intention of the Government
to build prisons and devise ways
and means to fill them.
Surely Prohibition and not Iicensc,
is the natural cure for these blight