Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-05-08
TIE BATTLE IS WON,

There has been distinct reyolu-
ton in the tactics of the reformers
as regards the suppression of the
traffic in alcohlic beverages. Half
century ago the lecturer was sot on
a vacation, whose speeches were
strings of anecdotes, mainly a MINI
lckery of the poor drunkards. And
presently the report would get abroad
that the crusader had tumbled into
the gutter again.
After this era of sorry strategy
began the study of the effect of the
poison on the human anatomy. There
was scientific investigation. Iufor-
nation of high value passed to the
public. The tax Oh citizens. the
pull on their purses to~pay for the
ruin wrought by liquor was made
plain. The cost of criminals, pau
pers, police, by reason of the work of
the saloon, CAME to mems attention
and aroused them.
The business of debauching sec
tlons of society at The expense of the
taxpayer began to fnd enemies.
When the account was ciphered up
1T was found that, in the long run;
1t would be cheaper to divide to the
saloon men good slice of the taxes,
If they would spend their time fish
ing. sleeping, fox-hunting instead of
furnishing pernicious fluid to the
public.
Men began to think. Thought
melted to action. The sterling ele-
ment of society rated the traffic as a
nuisance and curse. The use of
the negro vote to fasten this vile
trade on a community, made the
blood boil in the veins of white men.
The Ignorant and corrupt ballot of
the blacks gave victory to the cross
road dram-shop. The drunken Afri
can mocking the decent aud virtuous
white citizens after a contest over
the saloon augmented the hatred to-
wards the dens of evil. Yet the
blacks held the balance of power in
many counties. The white man
became the serf of the saloon and its
sooty sots. The fanatics, who in
hate and fear of the South, set the
muddy foot of the rice-feld negro
upon the neck of culture, honor.
Christianity, became thereby the
champions of this accursed traffic.
fastening it upon the States of the
South.
When Com monwealth after Com
monwealth cut the roots Of the saloon
by eliminating the ignorant black
voter, the doggery was doomed. The
new Constitution of Virginia sounds |
the knell of wbiskey devil. The
saloon, hated for its deeds of ruin.
doubly detested for its alliance with
the abhorrent and repulsive system
of black balloting, an insult to
Southern society, will be driven, as
Cain, murderer, from the presence
OF men. 1t is a stencil and a pestil.
ence. Let the site of this den of
lniquity be purged with fire and
sown in salt.
A trade that fattened on human
woe; that coined profits out of hunger.
tears, rags; that reaped riches out
of the widows agony, the bitter
life of the bare-footed girl, the wall
Of the old mother; that led the ranks
Of the blacks, is 1T not curse? What
shall be said of the damagogue who
hires himself to this hideous gargoyle
and moves at the beck of the bar
keeper? Let him robe himself with
The hide of an ass, adorned with the
kinked and woolly nap of the African
as lifting insignia. Virginia turns
from the statesman reeking with the
odor of the ebon champions and
ieafening the public ear with raucous
;lamor. The knell Of the hireling
IF the "still" has been tolled.s
La6erty.