The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1891-07-23

ants. But concerned for the involved in
terests OF Clifton Forge and the enter
prises that are going forward, they are
disposed to sacrifice much of feeling and
conviction, not because Of interests OF
theirs involved, but because others
ia no wise parties to the controversy
would be seriously damaged. We have
no fear for the ultimate future OF Cliff
ton Forge. but there is no doubt that
the effect of u persistence IN the SUIT
would temporarily arrest improvements.
| And for this reason, and this only, the
defendants have entertained a PROPOSE
ton of compromise What the result
of it will be we cannot at this time pres
diet
The local option contest is warming
up, but has not gotten to the red-hot
heat it will reach before the day of elec>
ton. Both sides are thoroughly organi-
ling, and no doubt a full vote will be
polled.
The writer of these lines is a temper
ance man, and when the local option issue
was up before supported the noiicense
side The reason for this was that the
privileges that license conferred, had
been grossly a Il e d. Wine-rooms
and debauchery as well as Sunday sell
ing were common things, and in defense
of violated law and outraged morality,
we felt it to be our duty to vote for
change. License triumphed, and with it
came a sense of obligation, and a marked
reformation in the conduct of houses
where liquor is sold Sunday selling is
practically abated. The wine-room has
! been totally abandoned. The police
regulations are enforced as effectively as
in any city of the country-as good or
der prevails us obtains in any other com
munity. This important and practical
step in reform ought to be recognized,
and when the law, as enacted by the
Legislature, is respected and its provis-
ions conformed to, it should be taken as
indicating good citizenship and law-abi-
ding purpose.
| The experience of communities where
local option has been tried does not evil
dence that it can be enforced. Maine has
made the most persistent local option
rec ord of any State in the Union. For
many years it has been the home of the
most pronounced prohibition sentiment,
yet public opinion there, where the
| educational process has been so long go
! ing on, is not strong enough to carry out
/ effectually local option law. The Port
| Iand Argus of last week, gave a graphic
/ picture of the celebration of the 4th of
/ July in that prohibition town. 1t said:
The police were kept very busy and the hurry
up wagon was on the go all day and night. No
attention paid TO simple or respectable &,
! DRINKS and only the vicious and troublesome
| were taken. As 1T was there were thirty five
arrested for abusing the ardent and locked up in
the cooler Some of these were sent to the Jail
/ to make room for newcomers. One man died in
| his cell.
Portland is a city of $4,000 people
/ over three times as large as Staunton
1t would be an event of general surprise
and comment were as many as ten men
arrested in one day in Staunton, because
of vicious and troublesome drunken
ness although license prevails there.
1t must be an extraordinary condition
of affairs where as many as thirty men
| call fer the attention of the police ON
account of excessive drunkenness in one
day. Similar experience is reported in
other prohibition towns of Maine. And
a like record has been made in towns in
! Virginia where local option has prevail
ed. When experience demonstrates that
modified, by reason If prohibitory
action of the council it does not stand
to reason that it is expedient to deprive
the municipality of the revenues de-
rived from license, by an expedient that
works more harm than good to the COM
1nunity. The positive harm it effects
in provoking the violation of law. and
the surreptitious use of liquors, in as
great. il not greater quantities than
before the adoption of such laws; when
the results are not perceptible i'll the
direction of the promotion of temper>
ance, it does not seem that it would be
wise to deprive city Of the revenues
derived from licenses, and at the same
time not lessen the criminal expenses res
sulting from intemperance. All public
questions should be practically dealt
with, as this Is a practical age and our
communities are practical people. We
must measure cause and effect, and
Judge a tree by its fruits, and give res
suits their proper Interpretation If we
could we would stop the sale of liquor
of all kinds, other than for medicinal
purposes. We would favor both in State
and Nation a law, prohibiting the mans
ufacture and sale of intoxicating drinks.
But until this fundamental remedy is
tried, we can see no practical good to
come from a spasmodic warfare upon a
properly guarded license system, which
is under the strict surveillance of the
police and enforced by conscientious and
faithful public officers.
Sam Jones is still much talked about
in Stanton, and the conservative opin>
ion is that he effected much good by the
meetings he conducted and the sermons
! he preached. A tangible evidence of the
/ effects of his visit was witnessed on Sun
day week, when about fifty adult persons,
who had not of late at least G iven much
thought of religion, connected the,n>
I selves with the several Churches of the
city. AT the Methodist about 30 men
and women had their names entered
/ upon the Church register; about a dozen
! joined the Presbyterian Church; six the
U. b. Church, and number the Baptist
/ Church. Many others have declared
their purpose to unite with one or the
other of the religious denominations
and hereafter give their example and in
fiuence in the direction of better lives
I One gentleman, who has not declared
+ his intentions in this respect, remarked
| to us that he felt more like q man since
/ he heard Sam Jones than he did before
that he felt an emotion of manhood
that he had never before experienced,
and that he had determined to declare
for the right hereafter, whether it was