The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1886-04-15

IF the money spent for whiskey could
be secured to the useful channels of bust
ness and life, it would create more values
in one year than the revenue derived from
license would amount to in ten years. 1T
would bring domestic comfort, peace and
happiness, instead of want, disease and
misery, and would advance the cause OF
morality, good citizenship and general
prosperity to degree that figures cannot
compute. The revenue plea is blind and
deception, if not a crime. It is designed
to conceal the moral deformity OF ths
whiskey interest, by appealing to the GU
pidity Of men and exciting apprehension
of unbearable tax burdens. When the
aggregate of revenue derived from license
is paraded as an argument in favor OF Ii
cense, no account is taken of the vast
sums wasted, the loss to community by
idleness and crime, as the result of whis-
key drinking and the withdrawal from Ia
boz and usefulness Of those who become
the victims of intemperance, as the natu-
raj result of license. Nor is it sound ar
gument against local option, that ''prohi-
bition does not prohibit. ~ There are very
few laws which are not in some way or an
other evaded. 1t is not expected by the
friends of temperance that any plan they
may devise will prove perfect. But each
step taken in the right direction is a
means of educating public setiment-one
of the process which has to be used to a
result, whether that result is reached
sooner or later. To assume that good
law should not be enacted because some
evil-disposed persons would violate or
evade it, and accept that assumption as a
rule, would defeat all legislation designed
to better the condition of community. If
the object is praiseworthy, then the means
TO it's accomplishment you'd be equally
praiseworthy. 1t is not necessary to stop
to inquire what its enemies think or
would have its friends do. The right
thing is to go bravely forward in the right
path, with faith. determination and en-
durance in behalf of the cause itself ; and
whether successful for the time or not,
the endeavors will have their influence
and impress their virtues, until success
will eventually follow. No great moral
struggle was ever encompassed in day
no great moral reform was ever effected
without laboricus work. Patience and
perseverance. however, in q geoq cause
will eventually be rewarded. though the
efforts to reach the result may be often
baffled.
In the discussion of the temperance
question, those who engage in it should be
candid, and not seek to delude and deceive
by false statements and conclusions. Such
we regard the revenue plea and the
plea that prohibition will not prohibit. y
That is an admission thaG few dollars
should weigh more than the happiness anJ
comfort of mothers and children--fhe re-
clamation Of a jeopardized soul and the
emancipation from the terrible tyranny of
debased appetite of creatures made in
the image of theif. Graat9r-ap admission
that great reform, duplicating the we'll
being of community, is not worthy of sup
port because the yiciously inclined are not
willing to abide by the law. Such admis-
sioaas are very dangerous, and if accepted
by the people as the rule of their action
would lead to a condition Of laWlessness
and vice that would make society cess
pool Of crifae ana invite the reign of sen
suality and debauchery.
A brave, manly people will not subscribe
to such an admission, when they consider
its import and reflect upon the eventual
consequences,
So