The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-12-18
evening State 5nmrnat


Il
IN Ho,n)-1 Word to Saloon-keeper
and Sons of Temperance. If we can't get
drink without begging for it and paying fol
1t too, we are going to do without it. Be
ing stranger to most of the 'saloon-keep
ers, we found it impossible to obtain I
horn" yesterday, because they were al
closed. We took occasion to stroll around
ana, positively, we never saw so many peo.
pie before hunting dram, or so many with
bottles wrapped up in paper, under over.
coats, In baskets and other devices to
deceive the public. We saw but few
who failed to get all they wanted, but
where they got it we do not know, and il
we dld. It's none of our business 20 tell,
mot being Son of Temperance.)
We desire to say few words to the sa-
loon-keepers, and in doing so, will put in O
few words for others, and among them, the
Sons of Temperance.
The order prohibiting bar-rooms from
selling liquor on the Sabbath, will, of
course, effect your receipts, and can harm
you IN no other way, prorided, you close
your establishment against all, and keep
them closed. you do not, and attempt
to furnish your friends and customers. the
first thing you know some of them will 'sgo
| back" on you, have you tried and fined.-
Mark well what We say If you want
the ordinance changed, or tact permis-
sion given you to violate the law, YOU
must close tighter than an oyster shell, and
not open yourplace even to get a breath.
There are numbers of working men who
labor hard allweek, and who claim the
Sabbath as day of recreation, and who
are in the habit of drinking more or less on
that day. AS soon as they find it impossi-
BILE to indulge their desires, they are going
to kick" and raise ''muss" about It.
Our German friends love their beer on
Sunday, and their social gatherings in the
afternoon-they can't buy keg on Satur-
day---if they buy less, it won't keep, and
as soon as they find their supply cut off.
they, too, will make noise.
These two elements control the political
destinies Of Richmond, and politicians are
just as certain to heed their remonstrances.
as they are to want office. So then. if
saloon keepers want the privilege of dis
pensng ''pison'' on Sunday, they must
EVERY ONE SHUT UP SHOP. This is
not the only reason. To keep open. is to
violate the law, which certain parties are
determined shall be enforced, and you have
no right to violate law, while everybody
else is obeying it, lin horn. AS good
citizens, you will not do so but if yester-
day is an evidence of what you will do in
the future, "Jestice" White will have adj
ditional work, and the city treasury wax
rich and grow fat.
We understand, in connection with this
matter, that certain members OF the Sons
OF Temperance have organized themselves
into vigilance committees, to see that the
law is enforced. Here they make a great
mistake, by changing from philanthropists
to contemplate spies and nosers after other |
peoples business. They desert their moral |
suasion ideas, and hug the phantom force.
They grow puritanical, and would progress,
step by step, IT encouraged, until in their
zeal they would imprison and hang every
man who chooses to drink whiskey.
As the warm friend of the cause of tenn
perance, we beg this noble order not to be-
come iatemperate in this matter, but to con-
tinue in its noble work to reform fallen man |
by example and by persuading him that to
drink intoxicating liquors is to bring ruin
and disgraceupon himselfand family. The
moment you attempt force, you desert your
beautiful motto of ''Love, Purity and
Fidelity, and become the most intolerable |
fanatics. 5
Go to church on the Sabbath; and if you |
prefer watching around bar-rooms, let it |
be to persuade some poor, weak human
being from the wrong, and not to soil your
pure garments by becoming spies and in
formers. Let the police do this, while you
attend to nobler work. See that your own
members live faithful to their obligations.
What would you think of church members,
who, instead Of attempting mans reforma-
ton, should make themselves spies upon
sinners who violate the law, and drag them
before the authorities ? The church that |
would so far forget its duties, would soon
grow intolerable. Such will be the fate of
your organization, if you continue the
course now marked out for you.