Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1903-01-02
lCommunicated.l
The COMING POWER.

Sunshine is the mightiest power on
earth; yet it never hurries, never
hollows, never fails. Just SO it is in
the moral world and the political
realm. That which screams the
loudest is not always that which does
the most good. Back of every re-
form that has succeeded in blessing
the world has been the quiet think
ing aud planning and, sometimes,
weeping of those who have cham
pioned its cause. Neither are these re-
forms, moral or political, hastily
accomplished. Revolutions move
slowly" but it is cause for rejoicing
that they never move backward.
A revolution is in progress in
the United States in common with
other Christianized countries Per-
haps it may be more marked here
than else where. 1t is moving at
some times and in some places
more rapidly than in some others.
But still, with settled purpose
and sure aud steady tread, it is
calmly moving on. This revolution
Is the change of public sentiment in
regard to the legalized saloon. 1t
needs but a slight Investigation to be
convinced of this fact. If any one
has doubts upon this subject let
him attend one of the annual con-
ventions of the American Anti-Saloon
League. There he will find that
"the half has not been told" him.
This League has only been in exist
ence about eight years. 1t was or
ganized in Washington, ID. c., and
recently held its Seventh National
Convention in that city. In that
time it has extended its organization
until it embraces thirty-eight states
and territories. 1t is indeed begin
ming to "possess the land" Wise
men in the ranks of temperance
workers are beginning to say: "This
is just what we have been waiting
for. Eureka! Eurekaw Christian
men see that this is the weapon that
God has put in their hands to destroy
the saloon monster. Division of
opinion and, hence, of effort has
been the cause of lack of success
among temperance workers in the
past. But here is something that
unifies sentiment and forces. 1t has
but one article in its creed: "The
saloon must CO." To this end it
invites the cooperation of all op-
ponents of the licensed bar-room, re-
gardless of creed, or color, or party.
1t stands for agitation, legislation,
law enforcement. Therefore it urges
Christian men to vote for men to
represent them in legislative halls
who will give to the people laws that
will enable them to decide at the polls
whether they shall have the saloon
in their midst or not. 1t also calls
upon its members and all men op-
posed to the liquor traffic not to vote
for adherents of the whiskey power
to execute these laws. 1t does not
advocate a third party; neither does
1t advise voters to 60 outside their
respective parties. But it does
exhort its members and friends to
use all laudable efforts within their
respective parties to influence legis-
lation and to elect men who will
execute the laws. In obedience to
this call temperance workers are
wheeling into line. and it is surprising
to know how much has been done.
In the District of Columbia more
than one-third of the saloons. have
been closed in eight years. The U.
8. Senate has recently passed an
amendment to the Immigration Bill
abolishing the saloon from the
National Capitol. The army canteen
has been abolished largely through
the efforts of the League. In southern
California officials who declined tc
give the people an opportunity te
vote on the saloon question have been
hurled from power. The Lake Shore
railroad recently offered to in.
vest 100000 in improvements in
certain western town if it can bs
carried dry, but it declines to invest
more than 81, ,000, 900 if it should 90
wet.
These are only a few of tn,
victories won. Space is lacking t.
speak of others. Around the banne,
OF the Anti-Saloon League the forces
ut work to. save the homes of ou,
land from the sting of the serpen
and the bite of the adder are gather
ing. Every face is bright with hope
every voice is happy with cheer
every step is forward. "Each victory
helps US some other to win." Whis
key politicians are beginning to fee
this power. Many have alread,
gone down in defeat. They ar,
"the unburied dead" showed unde
by the lily white ballots in tn,
hands of Anti-Saloon Leaguers. "Mel
of Israel. heIpi', Hare 10 o,r o,,.,o-