The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1888-06-15
Friday, June 15, 1883.
A Temple of Bacchus.

We did not believe the story at first but
1t appears to be no longer thing of doubt,
that temple of Bacchus has been or is
about to be opened in Elkton. A "Club" it
is called has organized, under charter, the
report goes, to drink greg and amuse them
selves with games, &c. There are forty
members of this chartered club if we are
rightly informed, and the association has
rented the hotel building in the .Hollow."
Here rum made its last stand under Harry
Confer. This Captain led the forlorn hope
of whiskey in Elkton gallantly, but he
went down under the stormy charge of
Prohibition, and like Napoleon was exiled.
After Confer's defeat and rout, the enemy
continued to make feeble resistance by a
kind ofjug guerilla wa rfare, but finally
that even died out and the men of evil
omen, who swore prohibition could never
prohibit, at last acknowledged with parched
lips that it was an astonishing fact, that
Prohibition was successful in Cecil.
But whiskey as it is reported of Satan,
travels up and down the earth without
stopping, seeking whom it may devour,
and like old Belzeebub having had six
thousand years Of experience has grown
wise in all the learning of mischief, impu-
dent from long liberation. and diplomat
in all the arts of deception and falsehood.
These forty MEMBERSHIP same number
by the way of that famous band which we
read ofin Arabian Nights, whose club
house opened to the magic word Sesame"
which interpreted means sold rye"
The social band of Elkton, SO report says,
propose having the old hotel fitted up into
a private drinking place. as the law will no
longer allow it TO be a public one. The
games between drinks, will as matter of
course be principally poker. If these
thirsty socialists must have liquor daily,
there is no law to raeddle wit b their taking
it TO their homes and drinking tn cir gil.
And lift is so beneficial to themselves,
share with their wives and families, broth.
ers and sisters, ETC., etc., as the case may be.
But the wives will not have it about, and
make times lively If such social inncva-
ton is attempted. The people haye out
lawed the business Of liquor selling in this
county. by branding it a nuisance, and this
view Of its sale and use has been confirmed
by decision of the Supreme Court Of the
United States. The nuisance consists, it is
held, in the injury to the health, morals
and peace of society. This drinking club
believes it can circumvent the law, but if it
was nuisance for Harry Confer to sell
whiskey, or rather spirituous liquors of all
kinds, because they injured tine health, the
morals aud jeopardized the peace of the
will it be any less nuisance
for forty men and boys to set up grog shop
and gambling establishment under the
name of Social Club, to do the same thing
which the Law forbid Confer doing? Not if
the Judge rules on the intent of the law.
"Pear Cider" served the purpose long
time to evade the law. Finally a special
law was made TO lay violent hands on
spear Cider" Now the name Is shifted to
social club and the manner of payment
charged somewhat. Payment is to be made
outside of the state. A barkeeper is hired
by forty in place of by one saloon pro-
prietor. 1t is readily seen that the action
is changed somewhat but the result is ex-
actly the same. The establishment is in
tended as of old time to be drinking shop,
a congregating point the same as tie saloon
was, for men to meet, get drunk, tell
smuty stories and gamble. The exact rea-
son the saloon is declared a nuisance and
outlawed, was not because the saloon keep
er.made money BY selling liquor, but be-
cause his establishment was menace to the
morals, the health and peace of the COM
munity, and this proposed social club that
is organizing in Elkton, contains all these
objectional features of the saloon. Will it
require special law to suppress, too? As
the club membership viii all be known, We
should suppose that the religious an moral
class Of the town would put such an estab-
lisbment down by The power of public opin-
ion. The w. G. T. U. should lose no time
in turning their batteries upon this new
saloon. If they will pray in public for
each individual member, We believe he
would ''see the error Of his ways" One or
two petitions presented to the throne Of
Grace for these forty wine bibbers would
close up this temple of Bacchus, provided
special emphasis were placed on the name
OF each member in their public prayers.