The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1884-04-10

The Temperance Petition.
We publish on or first page the petit
ton presented to the Legislature of Yir-
ginia by the Local Option Alliance Of
Virginia. 1t is signed by the venerable
and distinguished Ex-Governor VIM.
Smith, now in his 8Sth year, with his
mental faculties vigorous and his physical
energy and health remarkably preserved.
He stands himself as living exemplifi-
cation of the beneficent effect of practi-
cal temperance. He never at any time in
his long. eventful, active. sometimes tur-
bulent and distinguished career, in
dulged in stimulants of either spirits or
tobacco. Eminent as statesman and SOL
der, exposed to the seductive temptations
Of aggressive contests, and associations of
field and forum tried and tested when So
| ciety on the Pacific was rough and disor-
ganized passing through the more in
siduous enticementS of social attractions
in the capital of the Nation, he ever main
tanned the principles Of temperance and
exemplified them in his daily life. In his
| checkered experience, coming in contact
| with all classes of citizens in all the walks
Of public and private life,h was deeply i'm.
pressed with-had burned into his very con-
sciousness-the evils of intemperance and
the crimes it entails upon society. He
had seen bright intellects and noble souls
pressed down to ruin and degradation by
partaking of the fatal draught !; once
happy homes made desolate squalor and
poverty succeeding to the abode of refine
ment and affiuence lovely women and
innocent children driven to want and des-
pair; crimes of every hue and grade en-
failing miseries upon the helpless and de-
pendent, because of the demon of strong
drink. 1t was peculiarly proper that this
eminent citizen, with a remarkably diver
sified experience and enlarged opportuni-
ties for knowledge. should be placed at the,
head of great Reform Movement in his
native State, whose life is an important
part of her history, both in war and peace.
The selection was made, doubtless, not
only because Of his earnest temperance con-
viction, but in the hope that his prominence
as a citizen and his eminence as public
man. would command the respect of and
exert an influence upon the lawmakers of
the Commonwealth. 1t was reasonable to
suppose that any petition that William
Smith might sign and cause to be pre-
sented to the Legislature of Virginia
would receive respectful consideration,
to say the least. It was believed that all
appreciated his services to Virginia in
civil and martial duties. and if for no 9th
er reason, these would have commanded
courteous attention for any suggestion
or appeal he might make,
1t seems, however, that this reasonable
expectation was not to be realized. AL
though the cause he spoke for is one that
comes home to every hearth, deeply con-
Germs every circle, duplicates every inter-
est of society, and is interviewer with the
very superstructure and order of religious
and civil government, yet when respect
fully presented to the Legislature, through
petition, it is made the subject of jest and
the football of harlequins. The right of
petition is fundamental. 1t inheres in the
very organism of our Republican system.
1t is the corner stone Of popular govern
ment. The legislators are selected by the
people to serve them. They are their SER
wants. 1t is the privilege of the constit-
uent body to make known to them their
wants and it is the duty of the Legislature
to respectfully receive and consider the
| nd =. oh, n,
are presented. The petition Ex-Governor
Smith offered, as the representative of a
large portion of the earnest christian and
temperance men and women-the fathers
and mothers-the brothers and sisters-0f
the Commonwealth, had for it's object the
public veal. They believe that the evil of
intemperance is a great public crime-they
regard the laws as they stand on the stat
ute books as inadequate to it's arrest, and
to the end that the people Of the State. or
of the county, or municipality might say
whether they wished to restrict its lntlu-
ence OF abolish the legal protection it re-
ceives, the petition asked that the option
be given by popular vote. There was moth
| ing wrong in this. IL the people, who
constitute the community and the State,
wish to have law repealed which they
believe operates harmfully to the body pol
| itic, t is their right to so demand. 1t was
simply asked in this petition that this
privilege be granted. 1t was a reasonable
request object was praiseworthy
should have appealed to the conscience and
courtesy of every member of the Legisla-
ture, and the petition should have been IA
vorably acted on
But quite different was the reception of
this petition. 1t was referred and when
the time for action came it was made the
subject Of sport and ridicule. An insult
was thrown into the face Of every friend
of that petition, if not of morality. 1t
was treated with derision. There was no
manly argument against it. There was
no reason presented to dispute it's pre-
misses. There was no allegation that it
was hostile to the public welfare. 1t was
simply laughed out of court!
Whatever might be our views as to the
practi cal effect of such legislation as the
temperance people seek, we cannot too
strongly condemn the action of the Legis-
lature on the petition before it. 1t was a
duty they owed to a large, respectable and
influential class of citizens, to grant this
request, and let majority of the people
say whether it is in accord with their
wishes that the license to vend ardent
spirits should be granted ornot. This is a
government of the people, by the people
and for the people, and if it is their judg-
ment that the interest and order of So
ciety would be the better conserved by re-
strlctive legislation on the liquor traffic,
that is their right, and it was an abuse of
power on the part Of the Legislature
not to have respectfully considered the
subject.
| There is deep undercurrent Of feeling
on this subject of temperance. tt is moving
with volume and force, not only in Vir-
ginia, but throughout the country, ! that can
not be arrested by taunts and gibes, or