American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1865-05-31

| be murdered in one OF the haunts OF vice,
theatre We cast no stigma or reproach
upon the character of our fallen chief,
by saying he should not have been there,
for it is fashionable for church going peo-
pie to frequent these halls of sin; and
we do not regard the event as judge
ment of high Heaven upon him as an
individual for he had just as good
right to go to the Theatre as any other
christian man or woman, but We regard
the fearful stroke as falling upon our heads
as nation and government, and now
amid grief and tears and bitter walls of
sorrow, the momentous question propounds
itself to us. Hotc does God regard hiS
rain oad .foolih practice amongst ms p
Can he, whose eyes are as a flame of
fire." look upon the deceptive, Turing,
trifimg, empty performances Of theatri-
cal amusements with appreciation? We
ansrcr cmphaticaly, no. God has thus
very forcibly set his seal Of reprobation
upon all such public nuisances, and warn
ed us that he is taking notice of our ac-
tions. and the sanction that our govern
ment gives to iniquity, by gicjng license
to do cell.
VIII we as a people, now awake p
Will our government now put forth its
strong arm made powerful by the con
test through which it has passed, and put
down, along with slavery, these vile in
stitutions, by Withdrawing all license, and
protection from dram-shops bawd houses,
billiard rooms, theatres &c. Will pro
fcssedly christian people now give up
these, their ''molochs" of the pineteenth
century, and allow their 'sons and daugh-
ters no more to pass through fire VIII
we now sanctify ourselves in the sight of
a just and an offended God, by putting
away evil from our midst; or will We cling
to our Idols, and be smitten more and
more, and still wade through heavier,
deeper judgments to a sight of ourselves,
end proper appreciation of our priyi-
leges, duties and responsibilities?
y X + j
But l know you will say, this would
do very well, if we could carry 1t into
effect, but how shall we proceed; give us
some practical plan by which we can ope-
rate successfully in the right direction
This I may be incapable of doing, never
theess we offer few suggestions: If
any one can devise batter, we hope they
will be presented forthwith; there shall
neither be jealousy nor Unjust criticism on
our part.
There are now a number of our fellow
citizens looking up to us for our influence
and votes, to place them in high, respon-
sibe positions, in remunerative Offices
promising to faithfully represent us, carry
out our principles and our wishes in the
Departments ofGovcrnment in which they
may be called to act: let as begin pM
these Tis needless to urge that reform
is necessary the fact is too plain for ar
gument. Representatives to various de-
partments have been chosen very fire.
quently, through the influence of money
and ,chjskey Bad as it looks upon pa
per is none the less true, that many who
have been fed at the public crib, owe their
success to the powar of money and whis
key-and no wonder then that licenses
are granted that the law is prostituted,
repealed, ignored, to make way for drunk
ard makers. Let us analyze this license
matter a little. 1st, We have law for
bidding you Or | to make or sell to our
neighbour ardent spirits. Why the pro
hibition? Because it is an evil in Soc
ety.. Very well, is the law good Dyes.
Then shall it be enforced No, Here
is man reported to be honest, temper
ate, &c, with few names to his paper,
(perhaps all Incorporate characters and
a few dollars in ais haads, and he buys
permit or license from the court that ad-
ministers the law, to Uioiate the ta3c-the
good la,e that prohibits you and from
being guilty of this ofiense The court Is
therefore 6riJed 10 Jreak the lao Il pro
fesses TO administer. This is surely equiv
alent to the sale of indulgences, and much
like the command of the High Priest to
smite the great Apostle of the Gentiles in
the mouth-sitting tojudge him accord
ing to the law, and commanded him to
be smittea contrary to the law. But now
to the issue. Let politicians, and those
looking to us for the emoluments of Office,
know that this way of doing business is
at an end-that every man who goes
electioueeriDg through money and whisky
is repudiated by every honorable patriot
in the country Let the next political
issue be made between temperance and