San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1888-04-12
A PEN PHOTOGRAPH OFTHE MORAL
STATUS OF SAN ANTONIO.

Nature"
We copy below the greater portion
of q letter addressed 10 the Corning,
New York, Journal OF March Is,
written by q second lieutenant in
the United States army, dated at
San Antonio. II speaks for itself
comment is unnecessary.
Dear Journal: I am growing a
little dissatisfied with San Antonio
and rejoice in the idea that l am
soon TO leave. ! may be slightly
prejudiced, but I will tell you part Of
my reasons for dislike, make such
comments as ! please and let others
do the same
San Antonio is tho stronghold OF
anti-prohibition in Southern Texas.
Fifty saloons may be counted on your
way down town. Indeed, when a
daily paper observed that it did not
seem proper for a government ambu'
lance to be seen standing for four
long hours before saloon in town,
it was generally conceded that it
would be almost impossible to stop
within the city limits and not be be-
fore q saloon or bagnio. The
numerous dens are we'll patronized,
and as q consequence the brewers
aud saloon keepers have become 80
wealthy and powerful that it is i'm.
possible to enforce q law detrimental
to their interests.
This has been proved within the
last six months to the disgust of
every decent citizen of Texas. The
legislature of Texas, in the interest
of good order and decency, made a
law that all stores, shops, saloons,
gambling dens and the like be closed
on Sunday of each week. Here no
attention was paid by saloon men to
this requirement. and the only diff
ference between Sunday and other
days was a marked increase of the
liquor traffic with its resulting drunk
enness, indecency and crime. The
jails were always fuller on Monday
than any other time. At last it was
announced that the law would be en-
forced. The jail-fillers at once
adopted defensive measures. They
appointed few of their number to
test the utility of the law by openly
disregarding it; while the clique
agreed to pay all resulting fines, if
such were incurred, and all united
in securing popularity by free beer,
lunches and music. Also O liberal
supply of printers ink was used, ap.
pealing to the people "never to sub,
NIT to be deprived of their liberties.
What was the result?
When Sunday came few saloons
were closed; others were turned into
boarding houses, and the chosen few
openly defied the law These latter
were promptly called upon to account
for their misdeeds. No defense
whatever was made; yet in each case
a jury of twelve men duly sworn and
instructed in their duties, rendered
a verdict of "not guilty." and gave
as reasons for their remarkable YER
dict, LIST. The unrighteousness of
the law, and End. Its unconstitu-
tionality.
If Jurors are average citizens
there seems but one conclusion for
those of San Antonio-they are either
idiots or knaves. Where else was
ever seen petit jury so ignorant or
egotistical as to suppose itself COM
petent by verdict to pass upon the
wisdom or constituionality of O state
law?
These verdicts were condemned by
a few, but their voice was drowned
in the general jubilee held in honor
of the death and burial of the obnoxr
ious Sunday law.
Christian men who attempted to
hold meetings in the interest of tenn
perance, were rotten-egged, their
meetings broken up, the grog shops
and slums thrown open, and to-day
San Antonio is enjoying her freedom
and also paying the penalty.
Her boosted enlightenment seems
to be of nature superior to law and
law makers. and her freedom-lovin G
people, apeople who desire freedom
from all civil and moral restraint, and
who insist on being governed by no
broader principle or authority higher
than the will of the mob.
And nearly all this state of deprav-
ty is due to whiskey. Examine a
rooms and whiskev bottles
ire found. Discharge one for faults
md she acknowledges that wbiskey
s her curse. Stylish turnouts halt
before saloons and ladies () of good
social standing call for their beer.
What shall we dol Prohibition
las failed and is likely to fail for
many years to come. A remedy in
he form of high license is proposed,
,ut the prohibitionists utterly refuse
his remedy and declare that they
will have instantaneous cure or moth
ng at all; and nothing they are sure
o get.
1t seems high time for the temper
nee lovers in Texas to stop quarrel
ng, adopta feasible plan of opera
ions and then pull together, for we
need united effort to eradl-
ate this greatest evil.
&C. BALLoU, U. S. Army.
Two Kinds Of Girls.
There are two kinds of girls: one
! the kind that appears best abroad,