The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1885-07-23
Strain at . Cnat.

In our earlier reading Of Gods
word, 1t was with some difficulty
that we could understand how a
man could strain at a gnat and
swallow camel. We thought then
the language was too extravagant
for the Savior to use, even against
that sect of the Jews who were the
religio-politico rulers of the people.
However in these days of political
SHINING it is much easier to under
stand such language, as the country
is full Of such men; and the time
just as prolific for their production
as in the days when this language
was used by the Savior.
We have an exhibition of this in
our neighboring county where all
the newspapers are straining at a
gnat but have been swallowing
camels for the last fifty years. The
public press in that county has
just learned that 3 few magistrates
have been prosecuting a great
many petty misdemeanors and
criminal cases seemingly for the
costs which are in them, caring but
little whether they are found guilty
or not. This has produced perfect
tornadoes, yea, tunnel shaped cy-
clones in all the printing offices in
the county, except one, whose edi-
tor was disposed to do a.s many
preachers do, who preach altogeth-
er against the sins of Africa, Asia
and the Cannibal Islands, he went
away from home and startsl acy-
clone Of his own, which swept
through the oak forests AMI Sassa-
fras bushes of Loudon count,. But
in all these terrific storms against
Knox county magistrates, the real
cause of all this devilment has
never been named; neither of the
papers would dare to discuss the
cause. But they light down on the
poor magistrates for doing just
what the courts have been doing
every year for half century, ar.
resting and trying men, some were
found guilty, others were set al
liberty by the authority of the At
torney General and the Judge, and
the county paid the costs. This
was thought to be all right, but the
same thing is condemned before 9
} a magistrates court, especially If hi
had subpenied six witnesses in
, stead Of four.
, The people of Knox county have
been burdened with taxes, and thu
, men who strain at a gnat and swal
low a camel must give some kind O
, an explanation for these burdens
, therefore they pounce upon the jun
bugs instead of lions and hyenas O
> the city who are disturbing tn
!, purses as well as the graveyards o
+ that city.
II the newspapers of Knox count.
!. would 60 to the fountain head of tn
, wrong and cut great sluice ways il
. the dams where the devilment 1
e produced, their billiards. woul,
freeze up the source of all the wron,
g upon the people. They do not tel
: the people that million dollars
a spent in the saloons of Knoxvill
t each year. They do not tell then
J, that seven-tenths of all costs pal,
y in the courts grow out Of the liquo
g traffic. They do not tell the peopl
: that Knoxville would not need tn
: large police force she has if it wer
J, not for the liquor traffic. That tn
e degradation and barbarism exhibit
ed all over the country comes out 9
the liquor traffic.
If our good brethren of the pres
had the snap to treat the saloon in
q terests as they do the poor magis
g trates, great good would follow; bu
i these men, being politicians, ar
n afraid to say anything when
II liquor seller Is at the other end,
Y