The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-08-03
sTAt=NToN'S WET VICTORY.

The people Of stanton, both sides
TO be commended upon the quiet and orderly
manner in which the election of Tuesday was
conducted. and upon the fact that there seems
to be no ground for any suspicion of fraud in
the conduct Of the election 1t goes without
saying that the dry forces are greatly surprised
and chagrined by the result. They had expect
ed victory, and since defeat for them means
the temporary overthrow of moral principle,
they are naturally aud necessarily panied that
the result should have re-establshed the sale
Of liquor In their city.
But there is element of shame or despair
Id the hearts of the dry men. They look with
pride upon the ballots tisat were cast in vain
because they believe those ballots were cast for
the right They would rather so down in de-
feat, fighting for what they conceive to be
righteousness than to be among the Vic ors
who kaye voted back the open saloon They
look into the future with conscience undisturb-
cd, knowing that however the habit OF strong
drink may claim and bind its victims. however
vfce and crime may find origin il the traffic,
however homes may he filled RI suffering
''''fA@+'t
through the opening of the saloon. the respon-
sibilty lies not with them. It is better far to
face defeat, without responsibility for the in,
evitable results that will follow the introduc-
ton of the open saloon. than to celebrate a
victory that fastens such responsibility upon
the ceiebrants Nor are they hopeless, as they
face the Issue Of ultimate success, Steadily, ir-
! wi H.
oauses of truth and righteousness. No human
power permanently retard them With
! the optimism Of sublime fsith they have d.
! lied themselves with a cause defeated today
confidently expecting that victory awaits 5ht
| coming of tomorrow.
/ The lesson is one that pointed out prior
TO the election. thorough and eficient or
SANITATION, working secretly but steadily over
looking no detail, employing every expAdient
poled its full strength, And by combination
Of negroes. voters living at distant points
and the element that invariably supports sur
a movement. the vets overcame the dry senti
ment that holds ascendaney among the repre-
/ sentative citizens of the town and the force
that stand for the highest moral conditions
by Il majority or lUl the vets nave won. I h
dry forces VIII accept. with as good grace as Il
NJ possible, the verdict Of the polls and JOIN hand
with all good citizens to mitigate. as far Al
they can. the evils of the situation. They will
unite III NH good movements 70 promote III
1 progress and prosperity of Stanton. And the,
will, If they wise, push resentment and an
imosity to the rear and lend their influence Il
the peace and concord of their city.
i We regret that temperance has gone down II
temporary defeat in stanton. We can no
escape that horror that always follows tbs
contemplation OF the opening of the saloon
with all its possibilities Of evil and of woe. Blu
having lost in good fight, 1t now becomes tn
| duty of our Stanton friends to bow submits
svely TO the win Of the majority. and Will
| pursuing the peaoeable policy of education ant
moral suasion. TO lend their best endeavors t.
conserve and promote the best interests of tn
town.