West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-02-28
WEST VIRGINIA FREEMAN.
CORRESPONDENCE.
, A Few Words from Jackson.

ED. FREEMAN: Owing to the
high head waters in Mill Creek,
which met here the slack water
from the Ohio river, we have been
having a high time with high wa
tiers, which has deprived us of our
regular com munications by mail
with much of the outside world.
When | say outside world, of course
mean the little that is outside of
Ripley's corporation. To await for
the waters to assuage when one
food follows another in quick sue
cession, requires of the average soul
patience of no small degree, but we
are trying to let patience have her
perfect work"
The public generally were GU
"tip-toe" of expectancy; all eager
for the news from the Capital.
Jackson, as you are aware, is alive
on the temperance question, and
we are anxiously awaiting its fate
at Wheeling. The sentiment in
favor Of the Amendment is daily
becoming stronger and more active
here. A casual observer cannot
fail to see this. Ripley for long
time hrs been supporting three
drug stores, whose principal stock
in trade was whisky, SO "they" say.
A recent cold snap froze up the
whisky, and as drugs were not n
very great demand, creditors snap
ped on two of them and they closed
out. One only is left to "tell the
tale" and it cannot long survive
this healthful public sentiment,
We say, $50 mote it be-" if drug
store cannot be run without engag-
ing in illicit selling Of spirits as a
beverage.
We do not wage war against
these men, for many Of them are
our friends, but upon their traffic
We fight principles, not men. The
cause of prohibition may be baffied
by State Legislatures, and the
wishes of the people overridden by
false public servants for time, but
the intelligent mass of voters will
finally be heard upon this great liv-
ing question Of the age. Though
the fate of the Amendment in the
Senate at this writing is unknown
to us, yet we are in favor of prohi-
bition all the same !; and shall not
be either surprised or discouraged
if it again fails to be submitted.
From a somewhat extensive obser-
walton in other parts of the State, l
am certain that the feeling in fa-
vor of it is growing more potent
and following more influential
every day, and we shall lose moth
ing in the end if our Wise Men at
the Capitol again defeat the
will of their constituents. The
Amendment would now carry in
the State by handsome majority,
and the same earnest work in this
case for another year or two would
so revolutionize public opinion that
it would sweep the State from one
END to the other. Whisky men
have heretofore stood in their own
light when they were fighting
against the passage of the Amend
ment. If it had been passed two
years ago and submitted to the peo-
pie, they would have had a fair
prospect of defeating it. Now, the
splendid record of Kansas and Iowa
before the people, and the more
general diffusion of light upon the
great iniquity Of the whisky traffic
IS rapidly changing public opinion
and crowding the Prohibition camp
with new recruits.
"Reformations never 60 back
ward" and we can very clearly
forecast the certain results of de-
lay in submitting the question in
West Virginia.
We car bide our time, knowing
that our cause is just, and that
'Right must gain the day"
Yours for
PROHIBITION.