The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-07-17
CURRENTCOMMENT


Reform Needed.
When / pastor in Middlesex county the
second year of my ministry the strongest and
most faithful supporters of my church at sa-
luda were the Shackeifords. One of their broth
ers, Mr. Munsel shackelford, lived in Gou-
cester. the adjacent county He OF
the leading citizens of the county. and prom-
nent Methodist. l greatly valued and priced
his friendship. One Sunday afternoon, June /,
last man whom Mr. Shackeford has con-
victed of Illegal traffic in liquor wayIaid him
and shot him In the back he driving
along the road and his life Is despared of.
History is but repeating itself In this incident.
There Is no extreme to which the average
moonshiner viii not go. They do not hest
tate to kill an informer any more than they
would to kill dog. In the counties of Pat
rick and Franklin the people dare not take a
very active part In suppressing moonshining
To do so would be dangerous. and would
suit in murder l am compelled to advise our
preachers to use great caution and prudence
in dealing with this infamous evil for fear
they win be shot for interference"
| The situation is rendered all the more Diff
houH by reason of the fact that the United
States revenue officers often In collision
with the lawess element and permit them to
carry their violations of law for the pay
ment of specified sum. This. at any rate.
| Is the opinion of the best people with whom
talk without exception. and believe that it
would not be difficult to prove.
Every reform has its martyrs. Mr.. Shack
eiford is a martyr TO the cause of temper
ance, but his blood has not been spilled In
vain. The liquor traffic. both legal and ille-
gal, is heaping to itself wrath by its deeds OF
! infamy IT Is evil, only evil and that con-
tinually The cup of its iniouity 1, fast he
coming full. The people are rising up In their
wrath and Indignation against it, and will con-
tinue to do SO in ever increasing numbers until
1t is destroyed, root and branch
The great question before the people OF vir-
ginia this year Is to send men to the legis-
lature who favor temperance reform and who
will give the people the right to vote on the
question Of Statewide prohibition The rep.
| resentatives OF certain parts of the Danvills
district have almost invariably been men who
favor the liquor traffic. and who have per.
mo- oar mt huf fax
temperance advancement.
The duty of citizenship is one of the mos
solemn with which We are charged That mar
Is criminally negligent who turns over the rein,
of the government under which he and hi,
Il children aud neighhora ike iasa the hands. %
the vicious. and lawless element, to rnanag.
and control It's affairs in the interest of vice
1t Is solemn duty to ourselves. our fellow
men and to God to vote every time we hav.
an opportunity, and to vote for good men II
make and execute our laws. May we send t.
Richmond next winter only such men as will
stand for virtue in all its forms and especiafi,
Tor the great cause Of temperance REFORM
Danville (Va.) Methodist.
Drifting Seward.
Up on the Massachusetts coast last week .
young man Of unsound mind got in a sail boa
ana araIled out to sea He had nsither~ foef
An aftiuent family and skilled physicians couls
not restore him to sanity.
There are hundreds Of boys and drift
ing seward to-day. They have no compass
to guide their course and no ballast to keel
them steady. Their case is hopeless. They ar,
just drifting and have no knowledge OF tn,
. dangers ahead. just SO they float now, they al,
not concerned about the future.
Evil habits which formed slowly will
the assistance OF evil companions draw ma
. young man into the deep waters. At fire.
he is timd Then he grows holder FINAL.
he cuts loose and drifts seward.
few days ago grandfather WI,
was drifting. He had lost his bearing and wa
endeavoring to carry a cargo which was bear
ing him far from land =
No storms and waves win overwhelm boy
or who firmly anchored to truth
!, honesty, sobriety and work Such will neye
drift Observation-Disclosures Journal.