The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1881-07-28
FOOLS.

There appears. under the above sue
cinct but pOrtentous caption, an editOri-
al in the Topeka Commonwealth of this
morning, which We reproduce, partly in
view of its value as one of the most
unique illusions In the annals Of Kansas
journalism, but mainly for the delecta-
lion of our anti-prOhibitiOn friends,
who are wont to turn to the columns of
that paper for aid and sympathy in their
crusade against the constitution and Law
OF the state. We quote the article entire
rs follows:
There are all kinds of fools in this
world, but we think the saloon men can
show the greatest number in proportion
TO the number engaged in the business,
OF any calling. They ought 10 know
that their business Is, to say the least,
not considered very respectable by their
neiRhbors. The world looks upon the
business as q sort OF necessary evil, TO
be circumscrimbed as much as possible
and kept within bounds and under the
close scrutiny of the police authorities.
We do not by this statement intend to In
clude the selling Of beer by natiOnali-
ties who have for years used It as bev-
erage. Their business is considered q
respectable one, where they come from
and among themselves and neighbors
here. Last year, when the prohibition
canvass commenced, these men instead
Of taking back seat and allowing citI-
zens who opposed prohibition, from a
temperance standpoint, showed them
selves to the front under the name of
the 'Citizens' Protective Union" which
furnished an opportunity TO the prohi-
bitIonists 70 call all who opposed that
scheme "Whiskyites." To come to the
point, the "Citlzens' Protective Union
carried the prohibition amendment.
When the law went into effect on the
first of May, most of the saloon men
showed wisdom by an outward observ-
ance of the law, in most places. Final
| ~, when one Of them was brought up in
! Topeka for its violation, and acquitted
because q case was not made out. the
whole fraternity concluded that the law
could not be enforced, and opened out
in open defiance of the law. We told
them In the Commonwealth, that there
must be at least an outward observance
Of the law, and there would be not only
in Topeka, but in Leavenworth, Atchi
son and Dodge City. At the
same time we told timid prohibitionists
that one swallow did not make q sum
mer, and that they must persevere til
they brought about an outward Observ-
ance Of the law, because it was a law
What we told the saloon keepers ha!
proved true, in part, and will in thu
whole. There have been convictions il
Topeka, and there will be more, unit
they stop Haunting their violation of Law
in the face of the people. The best thin
that those now under trial in Topeki
can do is TO plead guilty, pay their fines
; and close their doors, as they have il
Junction City. Abilene, Emporia ant
other places. We call on every one wh'
faVors the repeal of the prohibition
amendment and the law to carry it int
effect, to use every legitimate endeavoI
to see that the law is enforced. TIT
way to repeal law is to enforce it, ant
unless it is, at least Outwardly, it will
never be repealed. Our readers know
our views, that liquor will be used il
about the same quantities with ever
saloon shut up as If they were opeE
But that makes no difference with GU
belief that while it is on the statute bool
il should be enforced as far as possible
II Is just as great crime to violate tn
law against Sabbath breaking, such Q
running street and other railroad car
. and doing any kind of manual labor, q
IL Is to violate the prohibition act, an
> men to stand up and bemoan the violi
} tiOn of the latter, while they are cor
} stantly in the habit of violating the fo
mer. The Commonwealth is in favor c
enforcing the Sabbath as we'll as tn
prohibition law believing that, so dom
Is the only way 70 wipe it from th