Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1899-03-09
The Principles and Purposes Of an Anti
Saloon League.

As the principles and purposes OF an
Anti-Saloon League, such as has been
recently organized in our county, are
not thoroughly understood by some of
our good citizens, committee. consist
ing of the undersigned. were appointed
at recent meeting of the League to set
forth briefly what the League is as an
organization, what it aims TO accom-
plish and by what methods it proposes
to effect its object.
The League is combination OF the
temperance sentiment of the people of a
community, as it is found in the church
es and out of the churches, which is
both moral and religious sentiment
The League is expected to look for most
Of its support to the churches, as in them
we naturally expect 10 find the most pro-
nounced opposition to the evils of intem-
perance The churches aid the League
in its work in behalf of the cause Of
temperance. only so far as they furnish
members to the organization and express
their sympathy and support Of the move
ment. The League concerns itself not
with party politics, but with the morals
Of national. State and municipal govern
ment. solely with reference to the liquor
traffic, and we claim that it is the prov
ince of church to speak out clearly
and mphatcally against any moral evil,
and to urge her members to combine for
its overthrow.
The League regards the saloon as
moral evil. and It's motto is, The Sa-
loon Must Go" So the clearly defined
purpose of the League is the Punishment
of the saloon.
If, as in jefferson county the saloon
legally exists, the League proposes to
remove that right of its existence, on the
principle that no business that is alto
gether evil in its nature and only evil
in its fruits, should be upheld by civil
statute.
In the meantime, before this ultimate
purpose is accomplished, the League ex-
erts itself towards rigid enforcement of
the laws regulating the conduct of sa-
looms: for example the law against sell
ing to minors, the Sunday law, &c, yet
all the time working up toward the abo-
lition of the saloon.
In county where law prohibiting
the saloon exists, the unlawful sale OF
strong drink IS zealOusly watched by the
League, and it eagerly seeks to enforce
the law against it,
The methods pursued by the League
for the accomplishment Of this end must
always be lawful and morally right. 1t
seeks right ends by right means. 1t seeks
to make the people see and realize the
enormity Of the saloon evil ii carries
on a campaign of education it engen-
ders temperance enthusiasm and while
the League disclamS any purpose what
or existing political party, yet maintains
it to be inconsistent, with the principles
herein set forth. to support a candidate
of any party whose prerogatives as an
officer can be used in the support of the
saloon, and who is known to be favora-
BILE to the liquor traffic.
Our League, as an organization of law
abiding citizens, earnestly requests the
cooperation of all the people of all par
ties, and of all religious and moral or
CARNATIONS, in order to protect and ele-
vate our home, our fellow citizens and
the good name and reputation of Jeffer-
son county
L. r MIBOURSE