Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1908-12-04
MORAL ISSUES.
Aecomack News.l

its support Of any candidate for guber-
material honors, nor do we consider the
time yet ripe for any declaration on the
subject, yet we believe in doing honor,
and giving credit where same is due.
II Judge Mann does not represent q
moral issue in Virginia we would ask in
the name of High Heaven what resi-
dent Of the State does or ever did
represent onei
Judge Mann as well as DR.. Cannon
and Speaker Byrd are equally, in our
minds, responsible for the enactment of
the Byrd Liquor Bill. and under this
law more has been done In this county
to wipe out the speak-easy or blind
tiger than all the laws ever on our
statute books. To say that the morals
of every community in this county has
not been improved by the enforcement
Of this law would be to subvert the
truth.
1t is well known fact that dozens
OF instances can be shown as examples
where men have been made better by
the strong sentiment against liquor in
their communities being dispensed
against the law, and not only has the
drunkard been made temperate in many
instances, but those who persisted in
selling the intoxicants have been forced
to seek more congenial climates as
fugitives from grand jury indictment
hanging over them. We are not con-
vinced that Statewide prohibition is
for the best interests of the State, yet
We are subjects for conviction.
The city Of Atlanta. Ga, has cut out
whiskey from its borders with other
parts Of the State, and her municipal
interests have not suffered one bit,
but on the contrary there appears to
be improvement in values and morals.
The nominee of the Democratic primary
for mayor down there got drunk re-
Gently and shamed the public sense of
morality and decency. and the citizens
who had pledged themselves in the
primary tacitly to support the nominee
have withdrawn their support in large
body and placed an independent candi-
date in the field against whom nothing
can be said so far as question of i'm
morality is concerned or otherwise.
Every paper in the city, though Demo
cratic and pledged to the support of
the nominee, feel absolved from the
pledge and are giving their support to
the independent candidate of their own
choosing. Was this action 8 moral
issue?
We honestly believe the moral issue
in Virginia is raised by Judge Mann
just as much so as in Georgia by the
citizens Of Atlanta or in New York by
Governor Hughes. We believe every
man should have the courage of his
convictions and assert an independence
with his right of suffrage.
The day in the South when the social
security Of ones self must be purchased
at the price of his convictions in the
exercise OF his right of suffrage has
already passed, and there is no reason
left for blindly following Democratic
platform and candidate in national
elections for the simple reason its
the Democratic ticket. Just 80 in State
matters. II the reward of honest at
tempt TO better the moral interests of
every community to the State shall not
come to those who deserve it, what in
centive is there for honest effort?
Other causes may overbalance and the
mere hope of reward may stir inactive
forces to action, but it is the duty of
every good citizen to examine him
self whether candidate or supporter
of any mans candidacy.