Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1907-08-23

| URED.
"The Passing of the Moonshlners
might well be the title of story which
has been written in official reports tC
the government during the past hall
century. In that story is written
much of romance, poesy and tragedy.
As tale, it is distinctly American
and it tells the life history of many q
venturesOme mouDtaineer and the
members of his family who have fought
for what they believed to be 6 prin-
ciple.
The midnight of the illicit distlller
has been sounded He is passing into
the shadows of a romantic history and
in few years he will be known no
more forever.
| In the years, particularly since the
Civil war, he has given the government
more trouble than many conflicts with
foreign powers would nave caused,
merely because be thought he was
right. No man who ever came into
personal contact with manufacturer
of "mountain dew" could fall to be 1m-
pressed with the idea that the moon
sinner felt that be was within his rights
as an American citizen. In the fast
nesses of the mountains. into which he
was driven by those whom he regard
ed as prosecutors. he thought the whole
matter out for himself and became con-
vinced that the government had no
right to pursue him and prevent him
from manufacturing whiskey from the
products of the soil which he raised
himself. He could not be made to un-
derstand why he should be compelled
by the govern went to pay an internal
tax on a product of corn or rye while a
miller was not compelled to do the
same.
AS Il result, the mo0nshiner unslung
his long rifle and, with powder and
lead, fought the advance of the revenue
agencs. 1t was life for life. and the
frightful tragedies which have occur
red in the South, where most OF the
illicit distillng was carried on, would
make volumes of vivid reading.
The day of the moonshiner, how.
ever, is done The records con aimed
in official reports to the government
indicate that the work of illicit distill-
ing practically is ended. Curiously
enough the end, which has come slowly,
is not entirely due to the activities of
tue agents of the revenue service, but
rather to public opinion in the South.
1T g belief is growing in that section
of the country, whether right or
wrong, that solution of the race ques
tion is dependent on the stamping out
Of the manufacture of whiskey. 1t is
felt that, 80 long as whiskey may be
obtained easily by the negroes, race
trouble cannot be eradicated.
The general result of this sentiment,
which has permeated the South gen.
orally. is the enactment of the most
stringent quor laws by the leglsla
lures, and in some instances, 3cently
to be noted, the enactment of osOlute
t, prohibition laws.
That those laws are to be enforced
| by the State authorities is evidenced
by the attitude of the judges who hear
liquor cases brought before tt N. One
Judge alone in Georgia has been oc-
cnpied for nearly twenty years in dis
| o ,sing of cases of illicit distilling, and
i has been his duty to impose recently
lsantences on men whose grandfathers
y 'ars ago he sent to prison for similar
off ,nses 6 ssa
In the opinion of the government
officials. the day of illicit distilling OF
whiskey on any considerable scale
has passed, and it is expected that in
a few years the mOonshiner will have
disappeared as completely from tine
South as from any part of tine Union