The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-11-19
Local Option in Georgia.

The temperance movement is carrying
things with Il sweep in Georgia. Already
a large majority Of the counties Of the
State have closed out the saloons by local
option, and a determined attack is Il w be-
ing made on the liquor strongholds OF the
cities. In Atlanta the feeling is at fever
heat. The election to determine the re-
suit will be held on the Goth of this month,
and most bitter contest is now being
waged between the two factions. Tre-
merdous meetings assemble nightly, and
prominent politicians and speakers are
leading the respective forces. Grass
bands are engaged for the campaign. and
parades, both day and night. are frequent.
The women are taking an active part
against the saloons, and form a consplcN-
Gus feature of tile paraaes. Each side
seems confident of success. and from the
indications given it is hard to determine
in advance of the election how the issue
will be decided IT is harder still to judge
whether or not the c.oiing Of The saloons
will afford the desired remedy for the evil
OF intemperance. Various localities of
this section have made the experiment
with results far from satisfactory. Some
years ago Harrisonburg closed the front
door of the bar rooms and avoided the
license, but the sale Of liquor continued
with little apparent interruption. A
| thirsty man. be he stranger or citizen,
could find liquid comfort and not half try.
| The drug stores reaped a big harvest. and
the town lost the revenue from the trade.
but the evils against which the law was
aimed abated not. Our neighbofing town
| of Waynesboro has for several Years had
no open saloon within its corporate limits.
but, if reports be true. there has been no
time at which liquor could not be plW-
chased there. To be sure the article was
abominable, but such as ii was il seemed
abundant and easily obtainable. Those
who deal in it have realized an enormous
profit and although detected once or twice
and fined, such casual incidents appeared
to interfere but little with the general
traffic.
To offset this, the only real argument We
have heard in favor of local option is that
it removes temptation from the pathway
of the young Boys who date their down
ward career from yielding to the perpetual
invitation extended by the handsomely
fitted up saloon where the ruby wine
| sparkles in its rich deeanters, and an all
of elegant welcome peryades, would not
be subjected to such allurement. The
periodical drinker too, to whom The first
glass is but the prelude to a prolonged de
bauch, and who, conscious Of his weakness
in the grasp of alcohol, seeks to avoid con
tact with it, might possibly be able to con
troll his appetite oftener were the sight Of
liquor removed. But we did net set oli
to argue the question of Local.option, but
simply to call attention to the warfare
now being waged in Georgia. and which
ere long will be more or less an issue IN
our own State. The Legislature just
elected is pledged to the adoption OF a gen
eral Local Option law, but Democratic
pledges rest lightly and partake somewhai
of the proverbial nature Of pie crust-viz
are made to be broken. Unless there il
| considerable outside pressure brought tc
bear, the pledge Of the Democratic plat
form in this and other particulars will mo-
prove oppressive on the assembled wisdom
of the State. Should the friends Of TEN
perance persist In pressing this feature Of
their cause upon the Legislature, they vii
be met by the cry of expediency and party
peril, and the record of Virginia Democ
racy where party is in danger, is too recent
and notorious to need extended reference
or leave room for conjecture as to the re
suit,