The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-03
A Local Option Blll' Criticised.

EDITOR CLARIoN: My attention has
lately been called to an editorial in a
local Coast paper on bill lately into
duced to the notice of the House of
Representatives called, "a local option
bill" 1t furthermore states that the
said bill was introduced by Mr.. Elmer,
the Representative of Harrison county,
which, it is supposed, will give general
satisfaction" The editorial further goes
on to say, among its provisions, are the
erelusioR IF all mercantile business" thus
meeting the Ujelcs Of most Of the merchants.
Ii then relegstes to the 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. n. to u
m, and from 6 p. m. to the next or
following day"
No~, Mr.. Editor, a copy of this bill
have never seen, nor have | met any one
on the Coast who has seen it; couse-
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, a 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, the 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-
courages the latter degradcs a communi-
tv. Which class does this. bill now before
the Legislature propose TO encourage?
The merchant, the respectable trades
man? These are exempted. Then who
are they, who are benefited? Not the
| vendor of the necessaries of life, certain
! ". neither the 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" are the
| saloon keepers, the restaraunteers, and
perhaps the hack drivers who earn
a few more dollars on Sunday, by driv-
ing the excursionists to and from the
denot. | have no wish to enter upon
anv discussion OF the ethics of the ques-
ton now. 1t is neither the time nor
place, but | do wish in the name of the
public sentiment of the best and wisest
\ of our own aud other lands, our own
and past generations, against any legis-
| lation which will give over our beauti-
] Coast to the remediless evils of open
| bar-rooms and billiard saloons on the one
| day of all the week which an enlight-
ened Christian sentiment has set apart
for higher ends than drinking whisky
and playing pool.
The writer of this is no Sabbatarian
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. He believes
IN enjoying life in all that contributes
| to healthiul and innocent recreation.
Nor does he object to tired, WORKOUT
citizens of the larger cities seeking the
linvigorating breath of the Coast during
the heated term, once week. or oftener
if they can. The great majority of Eek
cursionists'' are the wives and children
OF the working Cid>StS pt new OflcdnS
i Let them come, and as often as they
will. vet surely it is not their wish thai
the bar rooms be in full blast, nor dt
they wish to play ten-pins or pool. The
most of these bring their own lancheons
to enjoy quiet day in the country
They who crowd the bar rooms on ex
cursion days. especially the Sabbath
are largely the idle, the uprincipied, tn,
vicious. This general statement is n,
truer Of the Mississippi Coast towns tina:
lit is of Coney Island in New York
t And what Coney Island is o New York
} will that Coast town be to Mississippi
: which, if the Legislature passes Nj
, Elnerss bill, will make it a law by pop
ular vote. What Coney Island has beer
and is, may be ascertained By inspecting
!, the Monday records of The police court
! of Brooklyn and New York. place t
be stunned by the wise and good as ez
haling the pestilential efauyia of spirit
! ual and moral death aud decay ga
: vanized corpse of being. CHASTITY in il
: antics, even under the star lit dome O
God A DwELLER ON THE CoAsr.