The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-03-03
For the NEWS.


SOME THINGS TO CONSIDER.
The contents of this article viii indi-
cate its principal thought, better, per-
haps, than could do by having it at
the head of this communication, for
now every one having to judge for him |
self of its tenor, 1 may have readers for
the simple reason that they would like
to find out what l am driving at, and
may thus reach some mind or will that
would not LOOK at it were its context to
be indicated by title. Suffice it to say
write on what I conceive to be for the
best interest of this community, and if
l differ from my readers in the views l
shall advance and advocate, they viii,
1 hope, have the charity to admit that
it is the effort of wei meaning. if an
ignorant, blockhead. But If, on the
other hand, in your heart ofhearts there
shall beat a pulse in sympathy with my
pleadings, do not entreat, let self in
terest or prejudice prevent you from
giving it your earnest consideration.
Emporia is about entering upon its
second year as a city, and the question
which must naturally arise to reflect
ing mind is whether the past year has
been as successful as could be desired?
and, if not, is there q chance for i'm
provement? We are soon to have an
election for city Offices, and how we
can advance the best interests of our
city should receive the attention of all
of its citizens. Is the policy that now
runs the machine good and as such can
we endorse it, or must we seek a change
How about our financial condition are
we all we should be on that? Is the
credit of our infant city as good as it
should be? Is our little prodigy heal
thy in finance or not? The answer to
that is obvious. We are not in a sound
financial condition. Our treasury is
bankrupt, and our promises to pay are
but little relied on, if we may judge by
the price they bring in open market.
Sixty cents on the dollar is all the scrip
of our city will bring, which is not very
flattering, to say the least of it. Well,
then, admitting the diseased condition
of our finances, how shall we restore
our credit to its normal state? And
right here L shall touch upon very
delicate subject, but it is whispered on
the street, and it may as well find place
here. Some people contend, and per-
haps honestly, that by licensine the sale
of liquor you can add handsome sum
to our revenue. and it is contended that
we might as well receive a revenue
from the sale of liquor as not, and that
a corporation does not recognize NOR
ais. 1t is claimed that the city should
and ought to control the sale of ardent
spirits, and thus shut out the low grog-
geries and receive large sums in shape
of licenses from the respectable ones,
and thus restore our credit by paying
off our debt. Citizens, this is q vital
question, and leaving morality aside,
might be worth considering, if true,
which, thank God! it is not. Did any
of you ever hear of city that paid of
its debt b. licensing the traffic? On
the contrary, have they not, in every
instance where the plan has been tried
simply for the sake Of revenue, largely
increased their indebtedness Does
not increased lawlessness require a larg.
er police force? Does not the increased
crime add to the expense of our law
courts? and does not largely increas
, ed pauper population add largely to the
amount of our poor fund? Will we
: not then be paying pretty good price
for our whistle if we deceive ourselve!
in this particular and are deluded into
supporting license for the sake of reve
nue.? Yet an investment of this kline
l should be very profitable to tempt the
people to countenance it, for no one
claims that there is any honor to b(
gained by it. Our reputation abroad
will not be improved thereby. Neither
will our social life be elevated or bt
made more moral. We have nothing
to gain in any sense, if our treasury fill
not. But some people contend that i
will be losing investment, and they
advance the argument that alluded tt
that our increased expenses, occasioneC
e by licensing saloons for the sale of al
' coholic stimulants, will more than bal
ance the receipts therefrom. These arc
thoughts worth considering, and L fol-
one do not propose to take this steI
blindly, when we have everything tc
lose but money. If we are to poison
our community by throwing down the
flood gates and deluging our hitherto
peaceful city in drunkenness and crime
F 1 want it to be for larger sum than
will buy a potter's field in which tc
E bury the victim. If we are to act con.
trary to the teachings of our better ma.
lures let the reward at least be com.
mensurate with the sacrifice. If we are
to barter virtue and christianity fol
lucre, and steel our hearts against the
agony of the worse than widows and
orphans which this act of ours will ere
ate, let us at least count the cost and see
if the gold is worth it. ***