Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1886-05-20
LEWISTON IDAHO TERRITORY. THURSDAY, MAY 20,
AN APPEAL.
TO the Nora, Sentiment Of the Citi-
zcns Of Le,ciston,, for Unity Of Ac-
ton IN Stlpprcssing Eriis in
our Midst.

ton IN Supprcssing Erits in
our Midst.
We. the undersign ed citizens of Lewis
ton desire to call attention to the grow ing
evil Of sabbath desecration In our midst
in the shape of baseball contests,
shooting matches and horse racing
attracting the youth Of the community
in large numbers to the grounds on the
Lords day, making it day Of revolry
and dissipation. obliterating In the
minds Of the young all reverence for
the divine heing and for pure morals.
The cad aspect and influence Of these
public exhibitions are the dissoluteness
and hoodlumism engendered, fore.
boding future trouble to the homes aud
moral welfare Of Lewiston. II seems TO
us, that the recent sabbath transactions
are very discreditablc and humiliating
to us az community. We are just at
this time having = large number of
immigrants from the east who have
come among us to seek homes. They
came from country whero public
opinion would not tolerate such exhibi-
lions on the sabbath. What must be
their impression OF tho type Of morals
here? How will they feel about the
safety of their children in the midst Of
such examples? If we desire to dis
courage tie immigration Of moral and
intelligent people of the east to oul
country, cur looseness Of moral eenti-
ment for the last nine months. would
surely indicate that we are on the right
road. There is defiant spirit mani
tested by not a few, to override the
moral sentiment of our earlier and
better American days that is sal to
witness, and bodies evil and trouble to
our homes and to the rising generation.
One of the saddest facts connected with
these recent sabbath assemblies is, that
ladies in considerable numbers graced
them with their presence and feminine
influence. Nothing, in our Judgment,
is SO demoralisin1 as the presence and
influence Of women at these question:
able scenes of amusements and dissipa-
ton OH the Lords day. Woe betide
public morals when ladies Of respecta.
bility throw their influence in the scale
of loose morals and in favor of sabbath
desecration. These sabbath exhibitions
are most fruitful corrupters Of youth.
Even in the days Of heathen Rome.
Catiline was arrested and condemned
by the civil authorities for corruptinQ
the youth; but We Of christian and
enlightened America stand by and
witness these di-graceful scenes without
note of dissent. Who are the con.
seryators of public morals and decency
in our midst? Who ought to be? We
submit that the press ought to speak
out in tones that could not be misunder-
stood. The pulpit ought to be pro.
nounced against these evils. The
homes of Lewiston ought to emphati-
cally discourage these evils By exerc-
sing firm parental authority over their
children in attending these places on
the Lords day. The moral and res.
pectable citizens of our beautiful town
ought to irown on these dangerous
gatherings. The supreme question
with us is: what is our responsibility
in this matter? may we not, nay,
| ought We not, in the name of decency
and good morals protest against this
sabbath proclamation? May We not
ask respectfully that there be no more
baseball or shooting, or horse racing
assemblies on the sabbath within the
city limits? Have we not right to
expect that the city council and all
leaders of public opinion will lend
their influence to discourage these
dangerous gatherings ON tho Christian
sabbath? All of which We most res