The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1879-01-02

wJuld be dead. Whisky AID Iistols
forced them to 80 down into prema-
ture and bloody graves. This heart
rendering incident is but the opening
chapter To long and painful series Of
similar tragedies, unless public senti-
ment in our community assert itself
in protecting our homes from the ray
ages of those twin-demons Of ruin,
whisky and pistols. Society has
right to protect itself through legisla-
ton and to hesitate to do SO is to in
vite destruction upon our home alters.
Let the dram-drinking salturnalia con-
tinue and soon no Peaceable citizen
can have a reasonable guarantee when
he leaves home in the morning that
he will be spared to see his family at
the close OF the day. Is life safe along
our streets and highways when men
frenzied with drink and bearing dead
, ly weapons concealed stalk abroad,
ready and eager to resent even an
imaginary GRIEVANCE? Fellow-citizens,
it is high time to stop and consider,
whittier our society is drifting. Broken
hearted fathers and mothers, sorrowing
widows and helpless orphanage, cry
aloud that Legislation stop the licensed
despoiler OF their hopes and happiness.
Give the people the Local Option Law
and then let grand juries, court officers
and judges fearlessly and faithfully
measure up to their duty in indicting
full handed punishment upon all per-
sons found carrying concealed weapons,
and the tide Of crime may be stayed.
Legislative license and lax execution Of
law are transforming our boasted
christian civilization into border ruff
fan barbarism. The PocahOntas
killing, the Salisbury cut throat muir
der-lhc Whitcville double slaughter,
he Toon's murder and the Bolivar
itaiming brawls and the multitude Of
other offences throughout the county
can be traced directly to the whisky
bottle. While crime tAus holds high
carnival in our midst, the public con-
science seems benum bed. There is such
a hurrying to and fro, such a mighty
rush after the almighty dollars 50 much
sordid, selfish, personal centralism in
cur EIc-work, that we overlook the
duties We owe cur neighbors and our
selves. 1t is an outrage upon the
sacredness OF aged humanity that tie
closing days OF that godly and heroic
Father in Isrcal, Rev. L. j. Nicely,
should be saddencd by the shedding OF
his gifted sons life blood at the bidding
OF the whisky bottle. 1t was not the
natural, genial spirit Of unfortunate
James Mitchell that thirsted fer
Neely's blood, but it was the demon OF
the cup that planned and executed the
tragedy. See the days work Of that
fatal bottle; parents burdened with
grief, wives made widows, eight chill
dren made {atheriess, brilliant pro
fessional future suddenly eclipsed and
an entire community made to mourn.
But VIC must close this saddening re-
cital and as public journalist plead
with our people to arouse themselves
to the vital Importance Of saving our
youth, yea, our own sons from the
perils Of dram-drinking and pistol
carrying. In our poverty as a people
our children are our only jewels. Ii
we be robbed Of them by whisky then,
indeed, our daily sacrifices for them
will turn to ashen bitterness and the
future become a rayless night.