The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-03-01
PARTING WORDS.
Fort BENTON, Feb. n, 1882

FORT BENTON, feD. ~, 10cS.
Editors of the River Press
Being obliged by i'll health to go East,
desire to have q parting word with the cltl-
zens of Benton who have trea'ed me with
constant kindness. I have come to take q
deep interest in this town, and to believe thai
1t has a grand future before it. 1t does one
good TO see substantial brick blocks going up
and more in contemplation. 1t Is to be hoped
that the railroads will not be slow in coming
here, and that Congress will promptly vote
the money needed to improve the upper Mis-
souri,, so that this place may become q large
and thriving city. BY the competition OF
railroads and boats why should not Benton
be the most desirable mart for trade--the
cheapest place to buy goods 10 the entire
Northw / Go not wonder that cool
judges, looking forward into the future that
seems inevitable, become enthusiastic.
But, in the rush and rustic of these West
ern towns, we sometimes forget that the in
crease Of business is not the only thing TO be
considered. Suppose you have many impos-
ing blocks of brick or marble-and you have
also a vast increase OF hurdy-gurdy dens.
and houses of prostitution. Suppose you
double your population in three or five years
and that population becomes sensual and
drunken. VINO does not see that your city,
though outwardly imposing, may be but a
gilded charnel house after all. Accumulated
wealth. if it be not rightly used, ceases to be
a blessing it helps our neighbors or our
children to rush the faster into vice-tO SELF
destruction. There is the best OF reason
then why the influential, why parents, and
all who love their feIlowmnn, snoul try to
promote good morals in Benton, and help the
churches, whose obj-ct il is to lead young
and old to be noble, good and true.
Allow me to refer to the trading and other
business which is carried on upon the Sab
bath. This. / believe, Is a great drawback
upon The prosperity Of the town, and is one
of those things specially disliked by the best
Eastern people whom all like to see come
here to build up the town. More than this,
the effect of it is demoralizing. | address
those who wish to build up good society,
and who know that God has called q halt to
business one day 10 seven. While it Is q
splendid thing to see q community Wide
awake and tnterprisi"g, let US recognize
the fact that business is not God, but JehO-
yah is. Do you say that it is a very common
practice to do business upon the Sabbath ?
But tha, does not make it to be right nor pre-
vent the evil c"us qnenc+s. ! happen to
know that employers compel the employed
ii her 10 violate their cnnscieuce, or lose
their places. Whereas it is for the Wurldiy.
peculiarly, interest Of merchants and others
to make their employees m0re conscientious,
more sensitive to right and wrong tor then
money and property of every kind will be
safer in anOther's keeping.
Sabbath business binders the work OF the
churches. Ia towns where the churches are
strong and the majority openly endorse
christianity. secular business carried on by 2
few on the Sabbath does not seem TO do much
injury. But here where the churches are
weak, and church going is comparatively
rare, the effect is felt most powerfully. Since
our business men generally are friendly to
the churches, we hope they will render their
aid In the way suggested.
1t has been proved that the law Of the Sab
bath is not an arbitrary arrangement. In .
book called the ss5abba,h Manual" you may
see by u multitude Of unansw cradle facts,
that the command to rest upon the Sabbath
Is based on physical law. Jesus said that
''the Sabbath was made for man." i. WAS
made for his health and happiness. It hes