The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1888-11-14
A TeetOtaler per Force.

at least should, bring feeling of shame;
considering that they are not a necessity.
They are merely the means chosen by host
of lazy persons to procure an easy living.
They are the cause of three fourths OF the
misery and sin existing.
The opponents of prohibition are entitled
to their own opinions; but let them first. of
all, investigate, and then Judge. Let them
canvass all city and county jails, work
houses and penitentiaries; it will be aston
ishing to them what great part the liquor
and saloon element plays in the degrading
of morals; and how many unfOrtunateS 1t
is at least in part. TO blame for being sent
to prisons and refOrmatories. at the
expense OF the public. Now | have been
in places where prohibition was in force;
and have noted the contrast between such
localities and licensed communities.
During the few days that l spent among
the cold water people as they are termed
by SOme-nOt a drunken person did l see.
Such places | found thrifty and tidy.
Money and time spent, at other places. in
saloons. was here spent in decorating the
houses: in cultivating the gardens and in
fixing up the residences in general. There
was no temptation offered the residents at
every few yards to stop in and take drop.
This proves at least. that the absence OF the
temptation prevents the evil. Very few
inhabitants of large cities. have more than
vague and hay idea Of the vast number
of saloons i'll existence in their midst.
They travel through the streets without any
conception of the relative number of saloons.
to the surrounding dwellings. In some
jpC fhlsn N
the DaSser-b by hears nothing but din of cor
ruptive and vulgar music. ntermingled with
the blinking of glasses and swearing of men,
robbed of their senses and of money that
should have gone toward the support of
their families. We often see men come out
OF these places. staggering and unable to
walk to their families. who are, perhaps,
waiting in a wretched home, shiverng
from cold. weak from hunger or in fear of
the husband and fathers brutality.
Often. however, on staggering out Of the
saloon. they are arrested by the police
locked up and brought before the Judge to
be tined. as all inducement to ,Obriety. 1t
is not the rich man whom you see before
the Judges; men. who could pay their fine
and not feel the loss, nor cause their fami-
lies suffering. Times haye changed some
in the last two years. and high license has
at least. But vet American conscience
needs to be toned upon the subject of
temperance. Nearly every other business
nonse closes its doors for the day at six
O'Clock, or Whereabouts. Does the saloon
keeper close his door at that time? No.
In tact. in some places they keep open day
and night: open, with their dazzling lights
and other attractions that they have; such
as concert singers. music and many other
allurementS to draw paSSerS Oy-yOung and
old alIke-lntO their palaces of sin and deg
radiation. Have you seen a paper during
the past month. that did not announce some
murder OF the act of some detauter or en-
beZZler? How many Of these crimes were
not committed while the perpetrators were
under the influence OF liquor? Or how many
OF the inmates OF prisons would now be UNI
dergOing confinement, had they abstained
from the saloon and its influence? How
much shame and sorrow does it not heap
upon the inn0cent members of 4 family. to
hear Of. OF. still worse, to see. the huS-
band, father. brother or son returning from
saloons with an unsteady step and flushed
bloated countenance; perhaps. also under
the mental heavy burden and excitement of
a crime committed while crazed with
liquor.
And yet such palaces OF sin: such de-
baucheries i'll crime and degradation. eX-
list, and are tolerated by and among a chris
tan and intelligent people. If tie public
who are so anxious about the retorna-
ton of the crlninalS-wOuld do away
with these palaces of iniquity. or at least
reduce the number of them, they would do
much toward the diminishing of crime and
criminals. They would accomplish more
than they at present do. with their eXhor-
tatlonS to the criminal to reform. Just as
long as saloons are open at night. for the
schooling of the innocent YOUTH just that
long Will your prisons be full OF criminals
Their is confined at the present time up
ward OF 10000 criminals in the various
prisons and reformatories of this country,