The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1888-03-02


In the realms of crime
Where the fires are never quenched.
Charles j. Beattie, IN Inter Ocean.
SIGNING PETITIONS.
Protested Christians Putting Their Names
to a Bad Use-Views of Leading Re-
ligious Paper.
One who takes an active part in re-
sisting the granting of licenses states
that a careful examination of the petit
tions in neighboring county revealed
the names of a very large number of
protesting Christians on them. There
is an earnest effort to obtain the sigma
lures of Christians, for they carry
weight. The children of this world are
wise, and take great pleasure in MAX
ing all possible use of those who, by
their name, are supposed to be the sup
porters of all virtue.
To the thoughtful and conscientious
there can be but one answer as to the
propriety Of Christians giving their
names for such use. The saloon and
the church have nothing in common
We are not now concerned with alb
stract questions of right, but with
practical duty. The saloon, as it ex-
lists with us, is an unmitigated evil,
with an unmeasured power for evil.
In its character, in it's workings and
in it's results, the saloon stands as the
monster iniquity of our day. 1t has
no virtue, and it does not spare virtue.
1t is relentless in working ruin. No
appeal can reach its heart; no argu-
ment can change its purpose. 1t has
not any thing in common with the
religion of Jesus. He came to seek
and to save the lost; it seeks the up
right and the good that it may drag
them down to hell. In all the outgo-
ings of its influence, the church blesses
men. Goodness, truthfulness, integ-
rity, purity and happiness grow up
around it. The saloon blights all that
comes under it's influences; its poison
GUS breath is death. There can be
nothing in common between earnest
and spiritually-minded church men,
bers and the saloon interests.
If any one say that he has not signed
petition for saloon, but for re-
spectacle hotel, the answer is: The
liquor trade is the same whether car
ried on in the low pit or in the elegant
bar-room. There may be more of the
terrible results Immediately and visibly
associated in the former case; but the
character is not different. To large
class the elegant room and the re-
spectacle company are more danger
Gus than the vile doggeries; for they
attract by their elegance, whereas the
others repel.
The plea of necessity is not sound
one. 1t is too late in this Christian
age for that. There is no necessity
for any place for the sale of liquors
other than the drug stores. The en-
tertainment of the public is business
by itself, and will be governed by the
demand. The sale of liquors is local
is in sense private. The patronage
of the bar is from it's own surround
ings, and it thrives at the expense of
the virtue, temperance prosperity, and
welfare of it's own community. An
honest Christian man can not say in
this our day that house for the sale
OF liquors is necessity in any given
community. The lie is too gross to be
apologized for.
If the plea is made that if the law al
lows the licensing of such houses, it is
right to ask that the business be kept
,, in the hand of better class of men,
the answer is: A license law may be
accepted as some restriction on an
evil when we can not as yet secure it's
entire prohibition, but it is not man.
datory to the citizen. The judge may
find himself in such position that he
can not do what he would like to see
done; but the citizen is free, and is not
in any wise under any obligation to
| ask that such fountain of evil shall
be opened in his community. The
law is to be used by Christians to place
the greatest possible restraint upon
| the injurious traffic, and not to shelter
and support it. If all in a given COM
munity would refuse to sign such petit
tons, there would be practical sup
preston of the evil trade. By resist
ing all applications, we cut off the
worst, and train public sentiment for
entire prohibition.
Every person who signs such petit
ton becomes in a measure responsible
| for the dire consequences. When
| young men are led into vicious habits,
| it is under the sanction of his name,
even though in his heart he thinketh
notso. TO sign such a petition is to
invite all the dangers and untold evils
of the liquor trade to ones own house.
The saloon is the training school of in
temperance, and to sign petition for
license is to ask that such school be
opened for ones own sons. We have
seen the names of worthy men to such
petitions, and we have afterwards seen
them weeping over their ruined sons.