The record-union., 1891-08-19
The License Question.

EDS. RECORD UNION: Rev. Mr.. Need
ham delivered a prelude before his even
ing sermon last Sunday evening which [
think should be heard or read by the citi-
zens Of Sacramento County, and which I
adopt as my own expression and ask
place for in your free-lance column. He
said: "One day during the past week d
gentleman who is President of one Of the
largest moncyed corporations of this
coast, called upon me and stated that be
was interested in the welfare of our
county, having property in different pOr-
tlons OF 1t, and was anxious that the or
dinance passed by the Board OF Super
Yisors respecting the licensing of saloons
should be fully carried out. He re-
minded me that an effort had been made
III the board TO rescind that portion of the
ordinance requiring saloon keepers to
obtain the signatures of a majority of the
taxpayers in the precinct where they pro-
pose 10 carry on their business"
said he: Il feel it is no more than right
that the people whose property families.
and other interests are ilnperiled should
have the privilege of saying whether they
want such an institution in their midst or
not. If that portion Of the ordinance is
rescinded 1t IS virtually saying that the
people have no right TO object, or even
withhold their consent | am crediblY in
formed thatliquOr men have gone to prom
inent business men in this city and have
asked them to sign petitions for saloons
to be started III their precinct, and on re-
fusal have been threatened with having
their names put on the black list, which
means the attempted ruin of their busi-
ness. In this way many reluctant sigma
lures have been obtained.
"Now, my friends. who are these that
thus propose to terroriZe this COM
munity? An organization of saloon
keepers, Which, according to their own
statement, Is composed of but 220 persons
"a body of men which has twice failed
to secure a really representative mass
| meeting. Is such an organization to ter
rorize this community, ride over every
Individual right, and compel men in
matters Of conscience to side with them?
If men of business standing, men Of
wealth and high social station, are to be
dictated to by this class, and it is known
outside our city that such is the case,
what can induce good people to settle
among us? Is this the boasted nineteenth
century? Are we Americans and suffer
such dishonor? 'rd as lief not be as live
to be in dread Of such thing as myself
[ exhort you, my tellow-citiZens, by
your love Of country, OF home, and Of
family, that you resent this outrage on
your rights and the privileges of those
who succeed you. | appeal to you in the
DGIllc Ol IIl6 DlGIl VINO WILL DG UCDduCnGu
by the saloon, in the names of the wives
whose hopes and homes will be blighted
and shattered; in behalf of the children
| who will be wronged and rendered mis-
cradle by these debaSing institutions.
that you assert you God-given right to
protest against the existence Of the
saloon, and against the tyranny that
compels you to approve what you hate
and despise. God will require il at your
hands that you act in this great emer-
gency, and by the most significant deeds
indicate to the Board of Supervisors that
| you insist upon the retention of that part
of the ordinance requiring the consent of
the majority of the taxpayers to the mat
| ter of the existence of a saloon in their
midst, and that no restrictive or high
license clause be diminished.n
There was much more that the rev.
erend gentleman said in regard to the
matter, but this will give some idea of
the tenor of the remarks made I wish
to say in conclusion: Let the people rise
to a sense of their responsibility and in
sist upon the constitutional and human
right of the imperilled TO express their
opinion of the propriety of such places
as saloons in their neighborhood. It is
right never denied in free land; it is
guaranteed US by the Constitution and
the law. w. WALTER.