The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1871-05-08
rROM CAUSE TO EFFECT

ID perhaps the plsinest, as 1t certainly IL the
surs.t method of arriving at correct eonoiu-
.;ons. There may be two causes that brought
about the closing of oil the saloons on yes
.erday. Sunday. If one be because it was
obnoxious in the eyes of certain people to
see men enter these saloons on the Sabbath
day for the purpose of drinking, then is 1t
equally just to put the official seal upon all
church doors, for it may be obnoxious IN the
eyes of Protestants TO see people enter
Catholic Churches to indulge in the form of
worship peculiar to the Catholic Churches,
and Uice rersa. If it was TO improve the
morals of the city, to make our young men
more temperate, more virtuous and to force
them within the walls of the sanctuary or to
keep them at home, what was the result
We're any of these objects accomplished ?
Ask anyone who gave any atteation to the
subject last evening. We have seen the
same thing tried in other cities and seen 1t
fail and are prepared to say that it was
failure in Rock Island yesterday. The Peo-
ple Of Rock Island are very much like the
people of other cities. When told that they
shall not do certain thing they are deter
mined 10 do it When told that
thav shall not take drink on the Sab
bath they st once go and
get drunk--it is human nature, it is Ameri-
can, and who are these reformers that would
change this American spirit of resistance,
which was born in old Independence Hall
Rock Island on yesterday only repeated the
experience of every New England CITY of
any importance, az can be proven from the
very best of testimony. Men drank yester-
day because they were told they should not,
took big drinks, and got drunk because
thew were told they should not drink when
and where they wanted to. Were those who
cong regsted on the bluffs in Davenport and
elsewhere outside the city limits, any more
temperate, moral or virtuous than they would
have been, if allowed to enter saloons which
are situated within the influence of churches
and church goers? We're there any more
Grape bedecked saloon keepers, or any more
sinners assem bled under the horns of the
alsar TO listen to the words of everlasting
, life, than would have been there had thu
| saloon doors been opened Was there an,
t less money that should 60 to feed, educst
= and enrich our people expended for drink
I than would have been so expended had IN
saloon doors been opened? Was not NOR
money expended outside of the city TO
drinks than has been expended in the cit
on any Sunday of the year?
' These things are susceptible of demon
, strAtion-they were tried yesterday, and ar
, the retormers satisfied that closing the sa
looms on Sunday by an official mandate
the remedy for the ills they would cure?
F" they are, and it suits the people, then it sui,
US. But yesterday certainly demonstrate
= that closing the saloons did not proven:
3, larger number of drunken men and boy
Is being seen upon the streets than has bee
!. seen on any previous Sunday in the pa
e year As for the moral, vIrtuous and relil
IN ious objects to be attained, let those speA
who know "whersot they affirm" we hay
said only what the facts Of yesterday obse
vations will justify, without suggesting an
better plan of operation.