West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-02-14
C0RRESPON DENCE.
A Bugle- Blast from Parkers-
burg Democrat.

PARKERsBURG, w. VA,
February - 1881

lature of eur State has again sat
down upon" the Prohibition
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS the petit
tions and defied the expressed de-
sires Of the best people Of this COM
monvealth; and there are thous-
ands of anxious hearts in thousands
of West Virginia homes waiting
for the appearance of the next
number of the FREEMAN-to learn
what they (the advocates of Prohi-
bition) propose to do about it. Will
there be a ''let-up" policy adopted
and this noble cause of humanity
be allowed to die, because of the
recreancy of few public servants
who were trusted by the people to
do their will? God forbid!
Those who love their homes and
the future good of their posterity
above party and pelf, look to the
FREEMAN to lead the way, and the
army of noble friends throughout
the State will sustain it in its
grand struggle for the elevation of
Its fellow-men. 1t is at such times
as the present, when any good
cause is on the verge of defeat, that
the same is sustained and after
ward triumphs by the frmness and
slngieness of purpose-I might say,
the one-idea-of few who cannot
be swerved from their course.
might mention numerous exam
pies in illustration of this fact-of
the world having been blessed by
such men living and laboring in it
men who made life-work of a
single idea or purpose and never
knew rest until their race had re-
ceived the full measure of benefits
from their existence. | take this
to be characteristic of the FREE
MAN and its editor, and if it con-
tinues to battle with the same vigor
and signal ability as in the past,
| have no fears of the ultimate sue
cess of this, the peoples cause, in
this State. From merely nomi-
nal temperance feeling, it has crea-
ted a bold, determined and demand
ing prohibition sentiment that
ramifies every nook and corner of
the State; and it will not down"
at the bidding of few self-consti-
tuted party leaders. From doubt
er as to the expediency of the meas
ure, it has converted your humble
servant to a firm conviction that
Prohibition is not only feasible,
but next to Religion, is the noblest
and rnost far-reaching for the
amelioration of the ills and eleva-
ton of the condition Of humanity,
of any question that has yet agita-
ted the world.
But there is another question,
Mr.. Editor, involved in this action
of the Legislature that |, as Dem
ocrat, feel to be of vast i'm portance
not only to the party, but to the
liberty-loving citizens of the State
and that question is the right OF
pctition-the right of the people to
pass upon and amend and alter
theirlaws to suit themselves. This
principle has been instilled into
and grown up with every American
youth for an hundred years, and to
what dire straits have we come at
last, when this dearest right of
American freemen is denied us, and
that too by our own party and fell
low-citizens? 1t won't do to affirm
that they have not been properly
petitioned, The question of the
salvation of our homes from de-
struction by the Demon Drink, was
the one above all.others that enter
ed into the canvass that elected
them. They were elevated tempo
rarily by the people to Go this ex
press thing for them, and now that
they have betrayed this trust, we
are very much mistaken if they are
not henceforth buried in oblivion
beneath mountain of political in
dignation--as they deserve to be.
The FREEMAN has shown its ability
to dig the political graves of the en-
emies of the people when occasion
requires, and we trust that it's col
umns may fame with the fiery an
athe mas of an indignant people,
hurled at the political heads Of
these betrayers Of our rights and