The new Northwest. [volume] (Portland, Or.) 1871-1887, 1874-05-29
LETTER FROM SHERIDAN.

To THE EDITOR OF THE NEW NORTHWEST:
In late number of the Willamette
FJIrmer find the following in regard to
the Woman's Crusade:
Soorer or later the courts must come TO the
rescue Of the saloons and prohibit the prayers
and psalms which interfere with the prosecu-
tiol Of a trade that pays more literally than
any other for the laws sanction OF its continu-
ance.
So it seems that the prayers and
psalms do really interfere with the trade
to that extent that the law must come
to the rescue! L remember reading of
revival in Ireland, by means of which
saloons lost nearly all their customs,
courts were deprived of business, and
jails Of occupants. Such a state of
affairs is dreadful and must not be
allowed Let the courts come to the
rescue. The saloons keepers have n
right by ldtC to ruin as many as they
can, and the women who pray against
it must be prohibited.
In one locality, the Good Templars
induced so many topers to join their Or
der that the saloon at that place was de-
prived of all all its customers. Let the
courts prohibit the Good Templars and
the champions" yes, and the Churhes,
for these are all opposed to the trade,
and If permitted to do so will prevail
upon many a one to reform who would
otherwise have continued to be good
customer. For thus the rights of saloon
keepers are interfered with.
A man procures a license to sell liq-
uor. He fits up room with as many
comforts and elegances as his means
allow, and when all things are ready,
watches for his victims. Stand by and
see them come. Here is one; his blood
shot eye and nervous motions show
what liquor is doing for him. And
here is another; no, he does not look
like drunkard; his appearance marks
the gentleman. But wait; he looks
around and then steps inside, Jut the
screen hides all from vieao. And now
another one is coming; this time it is a
young wan; know him we'll; he has
Christian parents who never imagine
their son would frequent such a place;
he steps in and is hidden from view.
And while we stand and watch, one by
one they come, from all grades of soci-
ETY., the high and low, the rich and
poor, the old and young. Night after
night, week after week, year after year,
steady stream of victims pours In, and
what is the result? Riots, ineendi-
arism, robberies, murders, arrests, po-
lice courts, jails, (and taxes to SUPPORT
them, which are paid by sober citizensl, |
poverty, want, broken hearts, insanity,
delirium, and lost souls. And then, |
when grief-stricken mothers, wives, sis
ters, and friends of the victims, go forth /
with tears and songs and prayers, with /
the Gospel message, 'tpeace on earth,
good ciH to men," the courts must come
to the rescue. And why? Because /
'this trade pays more literally than any
other for the laws sanction of its contin- |
uance."
Lawmakers aud voters, how do you /
like 1t? What il we see our dearest |
friends, our beloved sons, led on step by /
step, their memory and time wasted ? /
What if they are deprived of their man /
illness, their intellects weakened? What 1
If day by day we see them becoiDg more
and more british, until they are wrecked 4
and lost? We must not interfere lest
we damage the pocket Of the dealer: he
has legal right to do all this miscbiaf
He is protected by law. But tile wives
and mothers must not pray and sing
psal ms in the saloon nor on the side7
walk or street. Oh, nol Neither mnst
they vote nor have any hand in making
laws the polls are no place for women:
the men are "our natural protectors ~
Oh, shame, where is thy blush?
oL,, LENoRA.