The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1886-08-09
CLOSING A LIQUOR SALOON.

The Final Triumph of Patient, Persist
ent Presbyterian Clergyman.
No citizens are so tenacious of legal
rights as rumsellers are Of their oppor-
tunties to ruin their fellow-men for their
own gain. Probably few of the good
people who join in demanding, through
the press, and in speeches at respecta-
BILE assemblies, that liquor shops should
be closed have any adequate knowl-
edge of what is required to enforce
their demand in New York. There is
great deal of complaint that laws are
not enforced, and a great deal is un-
justly said Of the completely Of police
and officials with the law-breakers;
but making due allowance for inetfi-
cheney and neglect, there is much to be
said of the difficulty of carrying out
good laws, even when both intention
and effort are active and devoted to
their enforcement.
In illustration of this statement, let
me give leaf from personal expert
ence. which could dout tless be
matched IN essentials by Rev. DR..
Crosby and others. Some years ago,
while pastor of church in this city, |
received letter from the owner of a
house next to mine asking me to buy his
property, and adding that, if did not
do so. the owner would turn it into a
"road-house. declined to be forced
into such bargain, and wrote in my
answer "that if a 'road-house' was
opened next door to me 1would try the
Gospel on it, and, if that tailed, would
try the law.
The man proceeded to put his threat
in operation, and leased the house to a
fellow countryman who had some ex-
perience in the business. Sheds were
erected, bar was set up and stock
of liquor brought in. A license was
duly applied for, and as soon as the
application was filed with the excise
board, the drunkards of the neighbor.
hood and their friends were invited to
come to house-warming.
Meanwhile, l had not been idle. The
police captain of the district had been
visited, and to his honor be it recorded
that Captain Speight said upon hear.
ing the facts: You may count on me
every time. Every complaint you
make shall be carried as far as you art
willing to CO." A remonstrance hat
also been entered against granting the
license, and the facts set forth fol
the information of the excise commits
sioners.
made friendly visit to the unwel
come neighbor, and endeavored to dis
suade him from his effort. He said
81 must live, and have family to sup
port" l told him that l would MAKE
no opposition to grocery or butche
shop, or 10 any business but that o
making men drunk; and when he sale
that ''men would have liquor, and HI
might as we'll make the money as thu
next man," l frankly told him that h,
should conduct his business sDithin tn
lac, and that l would have him ar
rested whenever he violated the law.
And l kept my word. The mex
Sunday he broke the law, and Monda,
morning he was arrested and taken t
the court and fined ten dollars. H
laughed at the fine, but was NOR
careful the next Sunday. l got
member of the Excise Board to visit tn
place personally, and showed him tina
there was no need of the addit ,na
dram-shop. He promised to reyor
the matter in the board, but 1t took
good while to do it. The newspaper
treated the matter, when they notice
,, it at all, as a good joke that clergy
man should try to shut up a rum-shoT
and some of them intimated that
was none of his business to meddl
with laws and politics and such mai
tiers.
Meanwhile, 1 watched, and after on
midnight orgy called upon poicl