The Daily clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1866-1888, 1886-03-02

/ IBAAOt GifAbAPNf va AtN'hAtSh Ha7
| lately been called to an editorial in a
local Coast paper on bill lately into.
duced 10 the notice Of the House Of
Representatives called, "a local option
bill" Ii furthermore states thai the
said bin was introduced by Mr. Elmer,
the Representative Of Harrison county,
which, it II supposed, will give general
satisfaction" The editorial further goes
on 10 say, among It's provisions, are the
e1clteioa n all mercantile business" thus
meeting The rie'cs Of mos, Of the merchants.
IL then relegates 10 .he citizens Of
Biloxi, Pass Christian and Bay st. Louis,
the option of what business is TO them
or their interest, requisite for the accom-
mediation Of visitors during the heated
terms"
The editorial further states that in
order TO pay due respect to the Sabbath,
the bill "compels the closing Of all
places (saloons are meant, | suppose, J
during church hours, from 10 a. m. to II
m, and from 6 p. IN. to the next or
following day"
Nov, Mr.. Editor, a cops Of this bill l
have never seen, nor have met any one
on the Coast who has seen it, conse-
quently ] cannot write with certainty
concerning its provisions, but can say
positively, that In the estimation Of a
large number OF the most influential
and cultivated property owners in the
towns covered by the provisions Of this
"local option bill" more deadly blow
was never contemplated against every
thing which constitutes true prosperity.
The people who constitute the
strength OF any community are the
educated, the refined, tile virtuous, and
not the ignorant, the brutal, the vicious.
Any measure which extends helping
hand towards the former, benefits com.
munity. Any legislation which en-
couruges the latter degrades a communi.
ty. Which class does this.bill now before
the Legislature propose TO encourage?
The merchant, the respectable trades
mani These are exempted. Then who
are they, who are benefited? Not the
vendor Of the necessaries of life, certain.
| ly, neither tho baker, nor the
butcher, the tailor nor the shoe,
maker. The only possible class Of
people who believe they derive any
benefit from "local option" arc the
saloon.keepcrs, the restaraunteers, and
perhaps the hack drivers who earn
a few more dollars on Sunday, by driv-
ing the excursionists to and from the
depot. | have no wish to enter upon
any discussion of the ethics Of the ques.
ton now II is neither the time nor
place, but do wish in the name of the
public sentiment Of the best and wisest
OF our own and other lands, our own
and past generations, against any legis
lation which will give over our beauti.
fnl Coast TO the remediess evils of open
bar-rooms and billiard saloons on the one
day of all the week which an enlight-
ened Christian sentiment has net apart
for higher ends than drinking whisky
and playing pool
The writer of this is no SabbataIian
in the strict sense of the word. He
does not think being religious consists
exclusively Of staying in doors on the
Sabbath or going to church. Hebelieves
in enjoying life in all that contributes
to healthful and innocent recreation.
Nor does he object to tired, worn.out
citizens of the larger cities seeking the
invigorating breath of the Coast during
the heated term, once week, or oftener,
ii they can. The great majority of Tex
cursionists" are the wives and children
of the working classes of New Orleans.
Let them come, aud as often az they
will, yet surely it is not their wish that
the bar rooms be in full blast, nor do
they wish to play ten-pins or pool. The
most of these bring their own luncheons,
to enjoy a quiet day in the country.
They who crowd the bar rooms on ex-
cursion days, especially the Sabbath,
are largely the idle, the uprincipled, the
vicious. This general statement is no
truer of the Mississippi Coast towns thaa
it is Of Couey Island in New York.
And what Coney Island is 10 New York,
will that Coast town be TO Mississippi,
which, il the Legislature passes Mr..
Elmer's bill, viii make it law by pop.
ular vote. What Coney Island has been,
and is, msy be ascertained by inspecting
the Monday records of the police courts
of Brooklyn and New York; place Ia
be Stunned by the wise and good as ex-
haling the pestilential etflavia of spirit
ual and moral death and decay gal
vanized corpse of being, CHASTITY in its
antics, even under the starlit dome of
Cod A DwELLER ON THE COAST.