Martinsburg statesman. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1869-1906, 1906-03-30
LAW AND ORDER.
This Celume is Leased and
Edited by the Law and
Order Organization OF
Martinsburg.
Who ID Responsible?

Vague anu lnutnIllc lucas 90 ~
proper place to fix responsibility Is Of
ten the cause of inadequate measures
for the prevention of crying pubic
evils. There is general disposition
to shift the burden of responsibility
from one to another while each one
hides behind that indefinite quantity
somebody else is. to blame. Thus we
are prone to look at this question OF
drunkenness and the catalogue OF
crimes and iniquities that flow from
it. Who then is responsible for this
dread evil which lifts up its bold head
anon our streets and demands social
and religious recognition because II al
ready has the stamp of the laws per-
nit upon 1t? 1t is only right that TINS
question should be honestly answered
and each one take his share OF the our
den and bear it; and if he finds the
burden irksome, let him resolve TO
seek relief in the only way that an nom
est man can do, that. is by downing
the whole business and thus to wash
his hands of all further completely in
it.
/. Every one will be disposed to lay
all the blame for the existence OF the
saloon upon the man who keeps IL.
Undoubtedly he is very guilty before
God and man for a business when mas
no redeeming feature about 1t. Inc
blood of ruined men, women anu
children stains his hands and his gar
ments. His money is the price OF blood.
"Woe unto him that giveth his neigh
Dor drink ETC." and doth SO dsbauch
him as to destroy his manhood.
2. The poor drunkard himself Is
guilty of selfmurder. He deliberately
puts his hand into the machine that
grinds it off, knowing just what the
result must be. He can only blame
himself for his unmanly weakness.
~In vain the net is spread IN the sight
of any Bird Yet poor foolish men
Jump right into the net which Is spread
for them knowing exactly what they
are doing and where the act will lead
them. Birds have more sense in some
things than men nave.
3. The men who make our laws are
evidently responsible for the character
of the laws which they enact. II they
are good and wholesome laws they
have right to be praised for them.
And every good citizen will be glad to
honor them. But if their laws are per-
nicious, they are blameworth for them,
and have no right to complain II
righteous public sentiment shall speak
out very distinctly in condemnation OF
their course in saddling such laws upon
the people.
4. The voter stands behind the law
maker again for he sends the man to
the legislature who enacts the law,
whether it be good or bad. Voting is
= solemn responsibility. To pollute
the ballot box by making 1t mere
machine for securing party victory or
for securing dirty legislation is I'M
worthy of honorable and upright men.
The voter then must bear his share OF
the guilt which makes men to be drunk
ards and deprive. the wife and child
rem of their home and bread and cloth
Ing, and makes them ashamed to ap-
pear in the presence of their neighbors.
8. Behind the voter again let us look
at the public sentiment of the COM
munity which makes such things rs
the corrupt voter or legislator pos
sibility. liz it not because the society
Of the land is either in favor Of the
saloon, or is very apathetie toward:the
whole matter, that the evil is suffe
to drag its Shiny length along and ito
work its sad havoc in the homes and
lives of such maltitudes Of the people?
Apathy then must be branded as
grossly criminal and the sentiment OF
the community is guilty in the sight
of that Holy God who has made us to
be accountable for our neighbor to the
full sxtsnt Of our ability to save him
from the evils Of this world Of sin.
In short every one 10 in measure =
partaker in the evil Of our system Of in
temperance, and it bshooves every one
accordingly to do his best to wipe
out the curse Of the open sore which
makes 1t 30 difficult for men who are
disposed to fight their evil habit and
taste, to do so. For the saloon with
its easy access stands as with out
stretched arms entresting him 10 come
in and drink, and the fatal step once
taken he has become = victin-hii
manhood is gone, he is in the tolls Of
the artful tempter, and as lorg as his
money lasts he is toyed and petted and
induced to stay and 10 show himself
manly by doing As he pleases, regard
less Of public opinion-snd Of the tor
xured wife or mother who is waiting In
1 4. =. l..