The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1871-05-26
RESPECT FOR PUBLIC SENTIMENT.

Public sentiment is sometimes in err
for those who are subservient slaves to
its clamors, or who fall in with it
against honest convictions, for the sake
of popularity. Popularity is a mere
bubble, liable to be pricked at any time
by circumstances, and the man who
continues useful in community must
have some surer foundation than this
to stand upon. But while we utter and
believe in the above statements, we say,
on the other hand, that the man who
sets at defiance an Intelligent, we'll
grounded and well-defined public senti-
ment, on any question touching the
public welfare, is not good citizen of
community. No good citizen will
trample under foot, for mere selfish
ends, such public sentiment.
The public sentiment of this COM
munity is strongly against the sale of
intoxicating liquors. 1t is intelligent,
well-defined, and has been expressed at
the ballot box over and over again.
And yet we find men trampling this
sentiment under foot every day. 1t is
not difficult to tell what induces them
to do so. Weighed against this
public sentiment, which every right
minded citizen will respect, is the dol
lar which the whiskey seller puts in his
pocket. He tramples under foot the
social and righteous sentiment of his
neighbor. and pursues business which
is evil and Injurious, and these only,
actuated alone by the desire to put
money in his pocket.
If we did not like community which
authorized license to sell liquor, by 8
public vote, we should leave it, and We
| think the liquor sellers here should eli
Their desist from their business or leave
No mau ought to attempt to sell wills
ky in a community which votes on ev'
cry occasion against licensing the bu
siness. No man who has a proper re
gard for the feelings and opinions o
his neighbors would do so. Thii
community has said, over and ovel
again, that it was opposed to broils
drunkenness, debauchery, ruin, pau
perism, and crime, the only fruits of tn,
whisky traffic, and its voice ought to b.
respected. If voting will not do, ther
whisky sellers and their aiders anC
abettors, whoever they may be, ough
to be taught that the ballot will b.
backed with determination and pow
er that will make them respectit.
Their hope now is that the commu
nifty will become weary of efforts to stoI
the traffic, and that they will finally tri
umph in their desires to obtain license
Has not the public sentiment of thi
city got backbone enough in it to lie
them know, at once, that their hope
are futile? Let steps be taken to thi
end. They must be convinced that thi
is community they cannot override
They must be taught that trouble ha
just commenced. This is tho battl,
field on this question. The license mel
arc prepared to fight. Will the temper
ance party back down? If the law il
unconstitutional, let US know it. If {
handful of devilish whisky sellers ART
going to run the country, let us inC
that out. Few men are safe among
whisky shops. A large number of PEG
pie have settled here especially to ge
rid of them. Shall they come to TIT
conclusion that we are weak falsifiers-
that we are sailing under false colors
Let us teach evil doors that here is /;
community where decent public senti
ment is respected.