The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1898-03-03
Waterman What of the Night?

A few years ago saloons, with screens
intervening Letween the bar aud the
street, were common in the very heart Of
our retired inland city, right i'll plain view
Of the church spires, and our mothers,
wives and daughters were forced to con-
front these drunken resorts or seek side
streets TO attend church. Our schools and
sunday Schools were subject to The same
ndignities. Most of these plants met the
fate of SODIUM and tomorrow, and finally
the good people invited the nuisance out of
the town by popular vote, or, in other
words. by legal expulsion. The traffic WAS
driven to retirement, but like hungry
wolves they threaten US again, and now
to your tents, oh Israel!
Remember your enemies are crafty and |
cunning. They do not openly challenge |
controversy, but they do manipulate
sOphistry automatically in council rooms,
at midnight, in jest, in private converse
ton, by SILENCE. This last cowardly class
is to be most dreaded: they do not say
word, they "have an ak to grind Either
directly or indirectly they have sympathy
with the whiskey trahc. Silence from
some men have been bought and paid for
There is another class of men who are
continually bowling for "better times"
and suggesting the opening up OF saloons
as remedy. 10 oren up saloons, is to
invite the very worst eliment of society TO |
come among us, and pollute the rising &
generation, to faint the very ali we
breathe with foul obsenity, and insult
God aud heaven with blasphemy, and '
elbow il" their ten cents-their last dime (
to the saloon keeper to buy more whiskey 4
to make more men drunk, and thus the
wheel revoyes each day, aud every day we :
become poorer. The producer in self S
defense is driven out Of the city Men n
with capital wish to locate their butiness =,
remote from idleness and vice.
am informed tribunal has to be in V
voked by prayer, by certain per cent OF c.
population before an election can be "
ordered, and wonder what man OF nv n
acquaintance, if any, will sign such =,
Ielltion--a prayer to which the petitioner III
las affixed his signature to live on record
liter his soul has gone into judgment be-
orc wise God who can not look upon sin
With the least degree of allowance A
'rayer which must confront us when our Co
tt0ng physical manhood gives way, our
yes become dim, our pulse feeble, and we IiL
p'e prayed away our hope on earth. and str
one left in heaven, by eternitvs insulted
'Od.
But some mems sins 60 before them pa'
ITO Judgment, and some follow after" 90"
nat ever may be your convictions or pre- W.
IdIce weigh this matter with reference TO ''
lie and eternity, and he careful you are
vi vIctiulzed by the worst enemies OF DE
ankind. and in signing sucb netitio, dec
'ilbcrately open up the food gates for not
e admission OF a wide, deep stream of ed
imam depravity, inviting the highway our
al 10 assasinate your father, the mid yer
ght burglar to pillage and purlon your sm'
lie, deliberately becoming an accessory. V
accOmplIce, an abbettor of all the frie
INES which may result from the folly of inst
'Oklng such fOrebay of sin to be in Z
ed INTO your community TO currupt the last
ung, stagnate business, Encourage iole- Per
IS and crime, and even suborn witnesses -
stain the judicial ermine, then invites II
jacchal enthusiasm, kicks no a nan. 'as'
nonlun Of yelling screaming devils. T.
'und the tomb OF Jesus the Christ nd and
ms the at0nement in efigy, and with The
maievoience OF a tend camly SURVEYS but
dissertation, but not yet being satisfied II,
II the havoc the unbridled flow of N,
SKY polsons conubisl felicity in the out :
mess OF our homes, kills the peace of ~
ciiy, ruins the morals of the country. ia
'h's the confidence of neighbors, slays you
htation which can never be rebpiit Ha
wipes out national honors, and laughs not n
ne ruin it has wrought. cOvet
MS Is a birds eye view of what vop -
be required to vote for in sucb IN
'ioh' Have you considered the gravity A.
ich movemehiY The fire is kIndlea q q
II you; what are you doing TO scotch &
Have you been induced to sign such x
e'iiicnE Then 60 to the party to q
n you sent It, and frankly own up to z
'hat yea have reconsdered il. and
ofize him TO cancel your name before q IN
prayer go1s OIL record in a high. g
y and la my opinion The Judge wll X VIZ
more OF you. God bless the q a
'tian peopie not one of whom will & ito
'ueh petition, but are they all do II ar
nat hey cen to prevent their neigh.
rciq falling iuto the pit. z G,
'ank an 2ppreciative friend AT Cley. X ~
hee at Norton; two at Bristol; ana snn
on Tue quiet streets of our DIV x of
rate town Tor their words of en- * d
ofAs niqdi." NV ""e""a" : is p
FRANK Lindsey n tnfs