The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-02-24

the public mind is always subject to the
same oscillation that individual minds are,
and think that this particular excitement is
abnormal, and, therefore, temporary"
"But is it not extending?"
$50 it will extend and continue to ex-
tend until. after a while, il will
spend Itself and a reaction set in.
The ladies are right in this. Their infiu-
ence is the only force which can nave any
real and lasting influence in checking the
ruinous tendencies to intoxication. i be-
lieve and always have believed that the
ladies alone can accomplish this great OBJ
iect. When men become mixed up in ii
they are sure to nave some Interior and
selfish purpose in view, and consequently
the movement will lose its force. The
women are always moved by an unmixed
desire to do good, and hat desire remains
effective uutil men, with their mixed and
sordid motives, interpose to take the lead.
All influence which seeks to correct bad
habits in man, such as excessive drinking,
must be moral influences, n in the exer-
else of these influences the ladies will neces-
sarily exert the greatest power. All positive
power of government and law has. in all
times and countries been proved by mex
peTience insufficient to control men in mat
ters ofhabits and manners. In these particu-
lars the moral force of public sentiment,
usually called public opinion, is alone found
to be efficient. There is no likelihood OF
the legislature taking any action on the sub
Ject. Whisky drinking cannot be abol-
lshed by law. You may pass all the laws
you please on the subject, and you will only
sharpen the invention of the fello VS. who
sell. The vote of the prohibitionists, some
10000 in this state, might as well have been
thrown into a waste basket. This thing of
praying around saloons is being carried to
excess. When an epidemic come along 1t
very frequently embraces the finest persons
and the finest nhUaiQQl nominations. hence
the fact that the movement is being carried
On by ladies ofthe first responsibility should
create no SURPRISE. / believe the whole ex-
element to be of an ephemeral character
and that it will in a short time subside."
HOW IT RACES AT SHELBYVILLE.
SURRENDER OF ONE "wICKEDEsT NAM
HI FARMS OUT HIS SALOON FOR A HoUsE
OF WITH THE
SALOON MEN-NEws GOSSIP.
From a regular Correspondent of the Sentinel
SHELBYvILLE, IND, Feb. 1S.-This has
been quite a gala day for the crusaders, and
a better feeling prevails among the Wo-
mems Union" than at any time during the
past ten days. The closing up Of Major
Maizes' saloon is considered by many a
precursor of better things, and it is believed
by those directly interested that another sa-
loon will fall ere long-meaning, of course,
George Duprez'.
In order to ascertain the feelings of the
saloon keepers, 1 called or several OF them
this evening, and submitted to them the
following questions, which were answered
substantially as follows, they all appearing
to occupy common ground:
Have the prayers of the women affected
you or your business in any manner?
None in the least; on the contrary, there
is a marked increase in our sales, and per-
sonally we are as unmoved as before.
Have you any idea OF quitting the bust
ness?
No, not as long as the law recognizes our
privileges as liquor dealers.
Don't you believe that the women are
manufacturing public opinion against your
business?
Yes. we are satisfied hat they are doing
all in their power to injure our business.
DO you consider the songs and prayers of
the women a nuisance?
We think them very annoying.
Do you believe Judge Banta would grant
an Injunction as did Judge Stafford, of Ohio
We are not personally acquainted with?
Judge Banta, kno nothing of him as a man,
and could not tell just what his ruling would
be, but think he would do as the Ohio
Judge.
Don't you believe hat if the Baxter Bill
was rigidly enforced, every saloon in Shelby
Vile would be closed within six months?
No; we do not. We comply with the re-
quirements of that law, and in addition to
it pay the enormous city tax of six hundred
dollars. And as long as we do not violate
the law Just that long will our business re-
main undisturbed. The Baxter law is a
hard law to sell liquor under, and a case I'M
der it is easily made out.
Do you. consider the whisky business a
moral business?
Certainly we do; as birth, education and
candid observation LAY brought us to this
conclusion, although a great portion of the
world think otherwise.
Do you not believe that the women are in
earnest and acting from good motives?
We think that a few only of the crusaders
are sincere. The others are actuated more
from a morbid desire to gain cheap notariety
and are also curious as to the inside appear
ance of a saloon.
What nave you to say in regard to the
answer the ladies gave you to the notice you
served upon them?
We paid but little attention to it, and have
sarcely thought about it, except to ridicule
it.
What course dc you think the women
should adopt to destroy the liquor traffic
The only way in our opinion is to buy us
out, and we will agree not to sell IL again,
These are the only terms upon which we
can agree.
How much money can the liquor men
raise to defend their interests in the courts,
or will each man defend his own cases?
We do not know just how much we can
depend on, but should it come to that we
would form an anti-temperance alliance and
spend the last dollar to defeat our opp
nents.
What do you think of the stock company
representing one-half millions of dollars ?
We think it the most gigantic fraud ever
perpetrated upon an innocent and unsus-
pecting community. 1t will avail the tenn
Derance people nothing whatever.
Thu women say they are going to keep the
war raging, until the last saloon is closed:
what do you hin of it?
We will give them a fierce struggle, and
maintain our rights to the last. This thing
will blow over in a few weeks more, they
are already weakening.