The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-08-13


tempt to the downward path. Not only
has the ''seed corn thrown around 1t
greater protection under an enforced IL
cense law, but the moral tone OF the COM
munity is more surely preserved under
license than it would be under prohibl-
ton. Illicit traffic would prevail and
lightning whiskey be dispensed, regards
less of law and decency, where now ev-
erything is conducted under law, by
parties responsible to the law, and hav>
ing some respect for their regulations
as law-abiding citizens. Local option Is
no remedy for liquor dealing. 1t has
proved provocation to excuses III law
breaking and drunkenness, wherever
tried, and works more harm than could
be Justly traced to license. 1t was
never designed in the enactment OF the
law under which local option elections
are held to effect temperance reform. 1t
was a political device to evade legisla-
tive duty, and delude the temperance
people of the State into the belief that
they had law under which reform
could be reached. 1t was a cowardly
dodge by which communities are forced
into profitless contests; agitation insti-
gated, and bitter feeling aroused, with
out the possibility of any good coming
out of it, 1t was a covert stab under
the fifth rib to temperance, a mendacious
scheme of INSCRIPTIONS politicians.
Neither is the "seed corn one whit more
protected by it, nor is there one drunk
ard less in the State by reason of it. But
cism encouraged; cranks given an excuse
to pest communities, and business de-
ranged and injured wherever the agita-
ton has occurred, us a result OF the Local
option law.
1t has been stated in Staunton that il
local option carried, then the next step
would be change in the personnel Of
the entire municipal government except
where prohibitionists now hold Office
The City Council is to be turned out; the
clerk of the City Court beheaded, and
SO on throughout the whole gamut
from head to foot, with the exceptions
we have named. That would be the
natural thing to do, and we have nc
doubt it would be done, should the pro
! hibitionists succeed. They always go tt
extremes, and there are always design
| ing men i'll such movements who are
| looking more to self and self promotion
| than to the welfare of the community
| The same influences that would carry
| prohibition would demand the offices
and the result might be that Stauntor
would get foolish and reactive city
| government that would arrest progress
and undo much of the good that thu
present City Council has effected-tht
most progressive and business-like Coun
| Gil the city has ever had. We do no
think the people are yet prepared to g
to the extremes of adopting a foolisl
and impracticable prohibitory law o.
radically changing their city govern
ment. If ills they have, they had better
| bear them, than fly to others they know
not Of To leave we'll enough alone is {
safe rule, and that is about what we be
lieve will be the result on the 29d of Au
gust.
The assertion in the Vi71dicaior's com
munication, that Staunton is not Harri
sonburg, and that drastic measures
would be instituted to enforce the law
and that fund of 81 200 would be il
hand to stimulate detectives to nose ou1
the law breakers, is all bosh, intended
to impart a tone of sober earnestness
and steady purpose to the canvass which
does not exist with many of the mer
who are pressing to the front in this
matter. We believe the ladies would
make any sacrifice, and would endure
and labor from consciousness of duty
and a belief that prohibition would pro,
llibit. They naye not studied the art OF
deception in public matters, and are not
cognizant of the ways that are dark and
the tricks that are vain of the alleged
stcrner sex when engaged in a political
campaign. The enforcement of the law
would not be with them. They could
not venture into the low haunts where
it would be necessary to go to ferret out
offenders, and the men would not. There
would be no 81 900 in hand, and if there
should be it would not effect the object
said to be in the minds of the sponsors
for the communication in the VindicG-
tor
Law breaking would prevail and liquor
would be drank; ''seed corn contami-
mated and debauched infinitely more
than it is now; brothels would flourish as
never before; drunkards be made by
stealthy and insidious methods, and the
last estate be worse than the first
As friend of temperance and prac-
tical prohibitionist and ready and will
ing to labor for the suppression of drunk
enness in all practical and effective ways,
we have no hesitation in asserting it
as our honest belief that a well-guarded
and strictly enforced license law would
subserye the interests of the community
more surely and safely than could
possibly be done under a prohibitory
law applied in spots, with license all
around. There is no reason or com.
mon sense in such law, and it's enact
ment would be provocative of law
breaking and law defying to degree
that would seriously affect every interest
of the city and county. If, too, prohi-
bition will not save the old drunkards
and will not reform the settled habits of
the moderate drinker, how can it pres
vent the seed corn from partaking of
it? If prohibition will not prohibit in
the case of the drunkard and moderate
drinker, how can it prohibit either
with the ''seed corn?" The assumption
that it will not be effective in the one
case, carries with it the confession that
it would not be in the other And that
is about the truth of the case. Prohi>
bition will not prohibit in Staunton, nor
any other town in the State, with license
prevailing in the surrounding districts,
and liquor making and liquor selling
sanctioned by State law.
The banks of Kansas have refused to
loan any more money on Kansas lands.