San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1884-02-07
OUR SERMON.

40.
The prophets prophecy falsely, and tn
priests boar rule by their means; and m
people love TO have II SOL and what will y
do In the end thereof Jeremiah Vi3i.
Less than q month ago this com
munity was horror struck by muir
der committed in a saloon of thil
town, Of which promising and
prominent young man, q native Of
this vicinity and belonging to ono Of
its bost families, was the victim. In
the excitement and tumult Of emotion
which prevailed for some time after
wards, IL did not seem TO us that the
public mind was in proper state 10
attend to the lesson taught by this
,deplorable event. But now that,
while the subject is still fresh, the
general pulse has become more com
posed, We propose to relieve ourmind
of some thoughts which have been
present with us over since, and the ex-
preston OF which we trust may be
productive Of some good.
The first obvious thought is as to
the source Of this as we'll as the great
mass of other erlmes-the use of in
toxicating drinks. That this is the
grand parent OF crime at the present
day no thoughtful or observant per
son can doubt AT least four ffths of
the criminal records of the public
journals and of the courts are direct
ly or indirectly chargeable to this
source. In short, it scarcely admits
Of doubt that war, pestilence and
famine combined have never inflicted
on the human race such an avalanche
OF woe, destruction and horror, pub
lilo and private, individual and social,
as has the use of and traffic in ardent
spirits. Those other agents of de-
struction pause sometimes in their
course, but that under notice is as I'M
remitting and unrelenting in it's Ca
Feer as death itself.
We need not expatiate in facts of {
this description, for all admit their
truth. Let us rather consider why ,
10 adequate remedy is sought to be
applied, or if sought, is almost sure
to be disregarded or trodden under L
foot. /
The great trouble lies in the fact /
that we have not public sentiment y
which will sustain any honest effort b
at reform. This was demonstrated il
in our midst few years ago with re- C
gard to the Local Option law. 1t was "
adopted in this county, and for per-
haps a month honestly enforced.
Many of our people will recollect the
wondrous change for the better which
hen became apparent Our town r,
was perfectly quiet and orderly; the is
'ormer throng of tipping negros, Mex. +;
cans and whites was no longer to be :,
'een; men who had been accustomed ~
10 come to town to get drunk, return =,
ID home sober to their wondering and =,
'ejoicing families. The Sabbath was @,
observed by all, and peace and quiet tc
we're the order of tho day, and of the
week. =,
Why was not law thus produc- q,
i've of 30 much manifest good, sus- h,
aimed? 1t was in itself most L
ighteous measure, democratic in q,
in strict accordance with "
he idea of "local self government" of
which we have all heard so much. w
Why was it that successful influences he
vere 30 soon brought to bear to break or
down? That prosecutors failed to N
PROSECUTE or juries to convict in clear "
asses of its violation? That doctors 70
ssued prescriptions by the whole at
ale, as the Popes in former times did tr,
to commit sin, to all who In
elt o desire to stake something, -
bus succeeding in turning tho whole :"
hing into farcei
There can be but one reason for
he failure of this law, and that was
he general passion for or habit of
ram drinking. There was not viz III
ne enough in the community to sus- ga
ain the law. That is the whole d.
tory. They could not even wait for n,
. legal repeal, but made haste to 81,
rample it under foot They thus /.
Md, in effect I'VE will drink, regard iiA
'ss Of all the known deplorable con al
equences. Though the practice fills XII
runkards graves and impoyerishes pr
heir families by the thousand; though al
tlls our penitentiaries, jails and
cor houses, and loads the country GU
18th the main burden Of taxation; TIN
scugh young men and beardless hin
oys are thus led by scores to des- mr.,
ruotioD. ike lambs TO the slaughter ~,
sough i brings forth bideous har-
~ Of murders, suicides and Outrsges "e
staout nsmeor number; though the on
are -evil, and only evil, CO,
ID hstocunansliy We vii continue er.
, Aizk and 10 sustain drinking and =,
sslcons BY our countenAnce.
rn~cu-e sDA pafx1ns0a- me