Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-10-17
Specimens of Their InsOIence.

the apen, instead of, as heretofore
IN secret conelaves and private deals
every move they make will hasteI
the day of their downfall. Theil
policy has always been to fight il
the dark. They have not, like the
temperance men, gone boldly before
political Conventions and said, "The
liquor-dealers demand this plank or
this man In behalf of the interests
of their traffic." Oh, no! They
have found their way to committee.
rooms or to the pockets of legisla-
tors; and when they. demanded a
plank inserted or d plank repl'essed
in party platforms, its true source
and intent were carefully disguised.
The moment we force their fight
into the light the traffic is doomed,
for their weapons are weapons OF
darkness.
Said the Springfield (NIass.) Re
publican lately: s'The evil Of unre-
stricted license is taking on a deep
er growth than is manifest in the
mere multiplication of saloons, 1t
assumes to dictate. That dictation
is nothing new. but until lately it
was not open dictation. It is fast
becoming such, as the lines ale
drawn, and in that fact lies perhaps
our greatest hope.
Said one of the Excise Commits
sioners of Brooklyn the other day
to a representative Of The Voice:
'tThe temperance people don't un-
derstand the difficulties Of my posi-
ton, or they wouldn't pitch into me
SO.
"What is the matter"
"Why, they fire away at me be-
cause so many licenses are granted,
when don't dare to do otherwise.
| have the deciding vote, and if |
did any other way | would be in
danger
''Do you mean to say that You
would be in danger of your life if
you refused to grant any more
licenses"
''Tes. sir, Hat IS what I sag-my
Etc would be IN danger. The liquor
dealers watch my house and dog my
steps day after day. | don't dare to
do any different.
And this is the condition of things
in the third city Of the Union, the
city of churches, the city with re-
form government! What was it
Lord Macauly prophesied?
Either some Caesar or Napoleon
will seize the reins of Government
with strong hand, or your Repub-
lie will be fearfully plundered and
laid waste by barbarians in the 10th
century as the Roman Empire was
in the 18th, with this difference, that
the Huns and Yandals who rayaged
Rome came from without her bor-
ders, while your Huns and Vandals
will be engendered within your own
country and by your own institu-
tions."
Isn't there danger of that prophecy
being realized ?
But perhaps as insolent case as
ever yet went on record VAS deyel-
oped by the Cincinnati Commercial
Gazette recently. A saloon-keeper
was lately prosecuted for breaking
the law and keeping open after hours.
The case was decided before a jury
and a verdict rendered against the
saIoonist. The Saloon-Keepers' So
cietp thereupon held a meeting, and
resolved to send a lotter to each Of
the jurors. Here is a copy Of the
letter sent to Herman Bellstedt,
musician and cigar-dealer:
"Mr. Herman Bellstedt: 1t was
resolved in the last session of the
Saloon-Keepers' Society to adopt
retaliation measures against all
those business men who indeed cul-
tiyate commercial relations with the
saloon-keepers, but whenever an
opportunity presents itself are
inimical to their justly claimed
interests.
GAS musician, whose occupation
largely depends upon the patronage
of saloon keepers, concert hall, and
hilltop proprietors, you should not
only have guarded their interests
but those of your colleagues.
GAS musician, you know very
well that no ball can be given in
winter, if the police hour is strictly
enforced, as the ball festivities dc
not reach their highest point unit
after twelve O'Clock. and frequently
do not close before three, five, OF
seven o'clock in the morning.
"You also know that even if these
festivities are continued within clos
ed doors after midnight, this, in tht
nature of the case, is just as illegal
proceeding.
Accordingly, not only are thous-
ands Of our feliow-citizens thus de
prived Of the right of amusing them.
selves at certain hour, but the pro
prietors Of such places of amuse
ment, and with them your fellow.
professionals, the musicians, are
struck by the same calamity.
'No society will give balls and en-.
gage musicians as long as the festiv-
isy may continue only three hours
from nine to twelve O'clock.
"And you, as a musician, gave
your vote for the confirmation oi
the police hour instead of putting an