The prairie news. [volume] (Okolona, Miss.) 1851-1875, 1859-04-14
REFORMATION NEEDED.

righteous" nor would we desire to labor
under the imputation of inditing sage and
religious homilies upon society and its
evils, and preaching up what might be
retorted on us as rather our precepts than
our example, but when forbearance has
ceased to be a virtue, and becomes a
crime, it behooves us to speak and in
performing duty equally as unpleasant
as necessary, We are sure of the appro-
baton of every law-abiding, orderly citi-
zen.
TO descant upon existing evils which
are so rank that they cry to heaven for
redress, to probe the moral ulcers to the
core which infest almost all human in
stitutions; to hold up to public scorn and
execration the many headed Hydra, and
to arouse in the breast of every substan-
tial citizen the fire of an honest, holy in
dignation, when such evils become no
longer tolerable, is not only incumbent
on, but also the preeminent privilege of
the Press; and should We be found re-
creant to our trust, and conniving longer
by our silence at rOwdyism, daily drunk
cnness, brawling blasphemy, and trumpet
toned obscenity upon our streets, both by
day and by night, we should be deemed,
and of right should be as aiding and abet-
ting such a state of affairs.
We are of those liberal spirits, who be-
lieve with Burns,
The cleanest corn that ere was digit,
May ha' some pyles o. char I'M
So ueer fellow creature slight,
For randum fits o. daiiln; -
but when the war is carried too far, even
the direction of Africa, when we see men,
and some of them, too, who could be use
full, heightened members of society, whose
daily avOcatiOns are, and whose only am
bition appears to consist in making inces-
SAINT and merciless attacks upon jain
Barleycorm, we feel like stepping in and
trying to establish an amnesty. These
gently of the Dutch courage order style
themselves "big Injuns heap" 20 about
the streets, seeking whom they may de-
YOUR, or pvrchance take in, and insult la
dies on the streets by their coarse, low
language, drunken leers, and tanglefooted
gaits. But We have been told that such
is the fatal .fondness of some for the
creature" that nothing will effect a
complete cure short of ground smeat.-
1t is too true. One must be unobservant
indeed, if he visits to any extent the
haunts of men, should he fail to see how
rife the crime of intemperance is becom-
ing In our favored section. 1t is sweep
ing through the land as terrific Simeon
of the Sahara, telling alike youth and
old age, marripg youthful promise, and
causing matured manhood to sink prema-
turely into the blacklist midnight. Ver-
lily the Syren's voice lures to destroy ;
her soothing tones are but the gurglings
of approaching death Then, we say,
let the strong arm of the law interfere,
let the majesty of our city government
(if we have any, be asserted and vindi-
Gated and let the interests of Okolona,
civil, moral, educational and commercial,
be guarded by watchful and jealous
eye, for it is an old saying and a true,
give dog bad name and it is sure to
cling to him, and if speedy move, and
one in the right direction, is not made,
such name will soil the fair fame of our
Prairie City.
Let the City Fathers meet in secret
cOnclave, and once more hold sweet COM
munion. Let them repair to the City Ho-
tel, the Calaboose, that temple of Janus,
whose doors for so many months have not
creaked upon their rusty hinges. Let
them brush away the cobwebs and emo
lest the ancient, solitary reign" of ow-
lets and bats, and prepare i! for the re-
ception and entertainment of guests, and
let them go out upon the highways and
conduct the weary and heavy laden"
to that haven of rest. There is a man
we wot of who would "wax fat and
kick" on such sumptuOus fare. "Och
bejabers" be would.
Failing into line. The Baltimore Gin