West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1883-04-11
CORRESPONDENTS.
The Infatuated Eleven.
Facesto Face With tbs 90 900 Petitioners,

Floyd, of Logan; Jacob S. Melvin,
of Jefferson; VIM. L. Mcneil, of
Pocahontas; Geo. E. Price, of Vim
eral; N. B. Scott Of Ohio; Joel e.
Stollings, Of Boone Joseph Vannle-
ter, Of Hardy; President, T. j.
Farnesworth, of Upshur.
To keep these men in the pub
lies eye, would be pleasing tack
if it were as a tribute to manful-
ness, Justice and humanity; be-
cause Of just opposite conduct, we
are constrained to do it, and truly
painful it is.
To help them and the people to
see the astonishing iniquity Of
their blow upon the foundation
rights Of the people, / ana moved to
to set them and the repulsed petltlon-
ers in an imaginary interview the
twenty thousand and the EleUen!
From the cities, towns and ham
lets Of the State, gather the people
whose names had gone with the
prayer fer permission to lift their
hands against the dread foe, rum.
Bring these twice-ten thousand
men and women into the square
and streets around the Senate
Chamber. Draw them up in the
solid lines; pack them in the mass
es they form. They are an orderly,
sober throng. A serious, earnest
purpose is shown by their behavior
and on their faces.
Bring out now, the upper
House" of thatrevered body, chosen
by the people, and for their service
in sacred legislation; seat them
over the .veStibule "before the peo-
Pile" They number twenty-six,
They would hear what these TWEEN
ty thousand constituents" have to
say to them This is briefly told
ave are here with one voice, to
pray you togive US chance in law
ful mode, to put away the growing
and destructive trade in deadly
drinks. We do not ask you to
touch any question of its character,
or effects, the right or wrong; the
profit or loss, the good Or bad, or
any thing about the question, We
the sovereign people settle those
things ourselves. We ask of you,
legal sanction to do our lawful work"
To whom, fifteen OF the honorable
body answer, 'yea we grant you
this foundation right" But they
are not the constitutional "two-
thirds" The decision is now vest
ed in the Eteuen others of the body.
Hear the substance of their replies;
the sense OF their acts, which the peo-
pie are to remember.
Mr.. Speaker, for himself and
com peers
"What business have you here,
mistaken thousands? You are med
ding with matters above your
sense. You don't know what's best
for (under tone) liquor interests
in West Virginia, and we do, and
are bound to care for them, against
any and every thing else. We shall
do their will, not yours Better go
home and let us alone!"
The people;-"We come to ask
for rights; for rights through which
we would put away what all know
is costly and deadly source of
crime in the State; what brings
four-fifths of crime and its costs, or
that out of which come four of ev-
cry fUe deeds of violence and blood.
The costs hurt of this law-shielded
evil, bears down every tax payer,
every Industry and good thing in
the State. We want to put 1t
away. We seek the right to do it. "
To this the Senator from the
realm Of grog-shops, upon the chief
river in the State, Lifts his tall and
venerable form and thus answered:
"You deluded people! come here
to talk of your rights! Rights Of
ann being before the liquor dealer!
As we'll the sucking lamb in the
paws of the wolf, claim rights
Why, haven't you yet found out
that nobody has any rights a liquor
seller feels in the least bound to re-
spect? What age do you belong
to-"
"But," interrupt the petitioners,
"you got votes to come here by
feigning great regard for the peo-
ME and their good"