Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1909-07-21
Wednesday, July Fl.
THE REASONS OF OUR FAITH.

PLANTATION. We are face to face with an
issue On Thursday of this week we
will decide on the important question
of license or no license 1t requires
some boldness, we are told, to come
out for license. Maybe so. But the
time has never yet been when we have
had stitches in our mouth. We have
adopted the side of license for various
reasons, sufficient 10 us.
1st-Because we know it works here
better than prohibition works in other
places where we have lived, and of
which we have knowledge.
2d-Because such radical change
as we are asked to make is bound to
shake business foundations, if not
crumble them to the business level of
Danville, Charlottesville, and other
dry towns in the State.
5d-Because we are opposed to the
self constituted moral meddler who is
travelled here, there and elsewhere by
some self constituted organization
adopting the name of "Anti-Saloon
League" or any other, formed profess
eddy to regulate the MORALS of this and
other States, relieve the Governor, the
Attorney General, and other State of1i-
GERS of their sworn duties, and the cit
les and towns of the cost of superfluous
officers, such as mayor, police justice,
policemen and common council.
As to the gentlemen thus travelled,
and sowing moral seeds, we are unal-
terable in our distrust and condemna-
ton. We believe that it is 'money"
far more than "morals" which has
started them ON their rounds, here to
tell you what you MUST do, there to tell
your neighbOr what he MUST do. Here
to stir up strife and bad feeling, par
aIyze business and in the end lower
morals and increase depravity. With
draw the money and they will depart
as sora before frost. Personally we
would as soon go to a neighbOr and
with oaths and eXecrations,t tell him he
must NOW his lawn, or change his out
side fence, or paint his house, to say
nothing of how he must bring
up his family; as to go to
a town or city and undertake It's reg
ulation. The one is no more brazen
than the other. Staunton is not their
objective point only, the whole State
is to come into their clutches, so they
boldly announce.
We rejoice that in this fight the ''paid
agitator," the "paid agent" the "pres-
dent" the ''secretary," or whatever
title he may assume to himself as rep
resenting the Anti-Saloon League of
Virginia, or other similar organiza-
tions, has seen cause to make himself
scarce. The stand of the business men
of this city, made boldly and fearless
ly, disassociated from the liquor ele-
ment, who have been charged hereto
fore with making the fight against
prohibition, has taught new lesson.
4aNoC buollCoo lhCl navy lhNut nav
drafted resolutions, have asked the
people who think soberly on this ques
ton, to avert the calamity which con-
fronts us. Those who were in the hab-
it of damning everybody opposed to
prohibition, have been to some extent
made to think, and whether through
foor of II of no
studiousIy kept away the "paid agent"
and "paid agitator." AS to what those
who have taken the other side of this
question living amongst US have done
We have no word of censure or COM
plant. We have no complaint to make
of gentlemen who came here under
the name of Cuisines men" or other
wise, to give their experiences drawn
from conditions under prohibition as it
appears to them in their own towns.
This is all legitimate and right. Wei
have no objection to our temperance
friends sending boys about town strew-
ing our front yards with ''dry' litera-
ture, Notwithstanding some of them
have ordered US to ''stop" the SPECTA-
TOR and some have burnt it as incen-
diary. These things when done by
our home people do not cause the
slightest feeling of resentment We
know people will do rash things under
excitement, things they often regret
afterwards. So these things when |
done by our own people are perfectly |
satisfactory.
Now that the time for balloting has
come, we say again to our people that
Staunton s conditiOn to-day is the best |
in her history. 1t comes not from the
sale of whiskey, but from the
broad and liberal spirit of her citizens
in the government of the city, in peace
full, undisturbed business conditions,
giving warrant to investment, and en-
couragement to trade. People come
here because of this, they trade with
US because of our business methods, |
they praise US because of our success,
they send their sons and daughters
here to be educated because they like |
not only the real, ..but the social and
the religious atmosphere. Can all |
these things be improved by the agita-
tor? We think not. We for one will |
not take the risks.
Staunton has no seminarieS or other !
school buildings for sale at public auc-