Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-04-03
Communicated
RIGHT Us. WRONG.


NiunI fOs ultVNus
Local Option Defended by "star.'
From the time we arrive at the ap,
OF accountability until God calls u,
to another world we are constantl,
considering and deciding cases Of
right and wrong. Sometimes W,
decide for right, and sometimes W,
permit the wrong to lead us.
One of the hefundamentald definition,
of the word "rigbt," ms given in ou,
standard dictionaries, is, "Being OF
done in accordance with the will OF
God" We are fully aware of the
fact that the word "wrong" is its
direct negative. Then if we realize
that to decide and act in accordance
with the will of God is right and
justice to this world and will bring
glory to heaven, can we conscientious.
ly decide in favor of wrong, especi-
ally when God, who knoweth and
doeth all things best, tells US through
Ills divine agencies that which is
right and that which is wrong?
1t is true that if we decide in
favor of right in ninety-nine cases,
and in the bundredth one we stand
for the wrong we are deciding against
the will of God. Nevertheless, our
right decisions and actions in the
ninety nine instances would not only
help us and our fellow men to over
come the difficulties Of the hundredth
one, but the angels in Heaven would
rejoice ut our stand for the right.
We should not pass judgment on any
question without first asking God to
help us to decide according to His
will.
If we would be what our Lord
would have us be, and if we would
prove ourselves instrumental in
making our country prince of nations
We must stand firm for the right.
Though faces may frown and hearts may
scorn,
Press nobly for right till the glad morn
When all shall be peace and Joy divine.
And with angels we shall rest sublime.
1t is not only wrong to decide in
opposition to the will of our Divine
Master, but it is wrong in the sight
of God to decide for the right, and
then SIT in the Lords vineyard with
our arms folded across our breasts
and refuse to battle against the
wrong among us.
: Be thou hero in thy might.
Always standing brevely for right.
For right is not bought with q price.
But obtained by sacrifice.
b Right at this point we are reminded
of the question of right and wrong
which is an impof tant Issue not only
in Stonewall district and in other
portions of Richmond county, but
elsewhere in this grand old Common
wealth of ours, and that is the local
option question.
We carefully read "Ches.erfield's"
communication on local option in re-
cent issues of the Nescs and the Poto.
mac Progress. We are sorry, indeed,
to learn that such an intelligent, gal
liant and progressive man as ssChester.
field" has taken stand against local
option. He says, "I also question
the wisdom of it" And he. saws
further, "Locai option prevails in
Richmond county, has it stopped the
liquor habit? Very little of it. Do
you doubt that? 60 see the iups
landed every day by the Baltimore
steamers"
We beg to inform him that be
'is laboring under q misapprehension.
At the present time Washington
district, round about Emmerton.
Ivondale and Sharps, is the only
portion of Richmond county which
is enjoying local option. Yes, local
option has stopped the liquor habit
in Washington district to great ex.
tent. Sharps is more of an orderly
village than it was when whiskey
was sold there. A great deal of the
money which was once spent for in
toxicants is now being used in build
ing up the village. We gained this
information from personal obserya-
ton and good reliable sources. How
can any one who wishes to see right
prevail say there is no wisdom in
local option? It is full Of wisdom.
No doubt there may be many jugs
landed here from the Baltimore
steamers, and, of course, some would
be landed if we had local option over
the entire county, but that is no
excuse for; our not having local
option. We can refer our friend
Chesterfield" to places in his own
county (Westmoreland) where the
prevailing of local option has proved
q great blessing in many ways.
What should We care for American
manners, customs, and appetites if
they only seek to better the worldly
side of things? What should we care
for the building up of simmer
resort, a place of business, or interest,
or even the increasing of revenue in
our counties, if our plan for doing
this carries with it demoralizing