The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1879-01-29
Temperance at, Rapids City.

correspondence OF argus.
Last evening | went to hear Ben Best.
a former resident Of Rapids City, on the
subject of temperance. Mr.. Best was
formerly one of the best of our saloon
patrons, and as he says himself, spent
good fortune in trying it on; only such
men can really and actually portray the
curse of intemperance. Mr.. Best made
very able speech which was listened to by
large and very attentive audience. He
used plain words but offended no Que; gave
his experience and methods of reform,
one OF which, and a very good one too,
was to make your wife your bartender. We
certainly ought to consider our own wives
and family as good as others. and the plan
will do no harm if tried. Mr.. Best also
alluded to our senators, and representa-
tlYes IN our last congress, at the closing
scenes He did not tell US that we, as a
people of an enlightened state, elected a
gentleman as senator, who is reported to
be in "snacks" with our Whiskey Ring.
After he had closed, Mr.. Sam Vansaut
of LIE Claire, was called upon to give us q
little LIE Claire light. He made rather
bad showing for Blue Ribbon" town.
He says they have reading room, that
the temperance club has met weekly and
kept up the good work, bat in spite of all
that they have seven saloons. iSeUen
Saloons? in Temperance town? Why
how is that! Rapids City has only two,
we have more inhabitants than LIE Clare,
and grant licenses. We have had in the
year past very quiet, orderly set of citi-
zens, but very few disturbances and for
mining town this speaks we'll. Evil
dently we need to help our sister over the
river, for by moral aud personal influence
alone can we close the saloons. Laws
we have enough, but the influence
OF our prominent men is worth ton of
laws Grant license to those who desire to
sell liquors, but make them pay well for it,
then those who auiu drink can have a
chance to indulge, aud the money received
Tor licenses will go far towards improving
and ornamenting ocr city We need well
conducted cOmmUdious reading room, aud
the money received from licenses can,
10 this way, be applied to the improve
meut OF the mental faculties, through
which alone We can teach the follies of in
Temperance
There is no use in closing our saloons
when higher authority leaves them open.
Bring up our children to be temperate,
make our wives and sisters our bartenders
and when we get about gone" they will
have plenty of money TO keep US.
A prominent farmer, living near town,
says he Will never drink another drop; did
he come to this resolution because our
saloons were cIOsed2 No, he reasoned it
out with himself, and when that is once
done no laws are needed.
License saloons. charge a good license
and keep up the reading room and the
Good Templar business. If we go at it in
earnest, use personal and liberal influence,
it will go farther toward the desired result
than law closing them all Mr. Best did
not reform because he got 10 Temperance,
no-license town. 1t was the moral and per-
sonaI influence, the reasoning within
himself that told him his error. and he
don't care if there are forty sa-
looms, he can pass by them But
there other straws in the wind. 1t is com
ing near spring elections, and the no.
license party want to be elected Now,
gentlemen, don't mix it, stick to temper
ance, and let the genuine honest influence
come out, and If your party is the best it
will win. When We send congressman to
our legislative halls who are 10 earnest for
reform, then let US close the saloons, we
can't do it before. believe in license,
with power controlling 1t. Let our business
men come forward and keep up the read
ing rooms and use their personal influence
and they will find ready and gratifying
result. "CONYNGHAM,"
Rapids City, ILL.,, Jan. 27, 1879.