Nevada County picayune. (Prescott, Nev. County, Ark.) 1885-1???, 1892-03-17
RELIGIOUS COLUMN.
THOS II WARE, EDITOR.
JOHN BEHEADED.

mected with the killing of John the
Baptist, let us see if other Johns are
not "beheaded" in these modern
times, and for causes, il possible,
less iustliable than Those which led
to the death of one OF the bravest,
purest, truest preachers that has ever
| lived.
There are few if any persons in
our country who do not recognize
the awful evils of the whisky traffic.
1t is estimated that at least 10000
persons die annually in these United
States, from the direct effects of
this business. Homes are made des-
olate, wives are made widows, child
rem become fatherless, and an awful
blight comes upon society without
being modified by any good resulting
therefrom. Here is an evil, and only
an evil, without mitigation or modi-
licaton, destroying its tens of thous-
ands of lives annually, bringing
heart aches, Indebtedness and mis-
cry to hundreds of thousands of
homes, which otherwise would be
happy homes, without offering any
thing as a substitute for these brok
en- hearts and buried hopes. The
man who engages in this business
says: Il care not whose domestic
happiness is disturbed, how many
fire brands are strown in the com
munitv, who fills an untmely grave.
Mothers. with bleeding, breaking
hearts may stand over the lifeless
form of their bright and once prom
sing boys, as the result Of his bust
ness, and his only response to those
heart-sighs, and that heaving bosom,
is a demon-like smile as he stoops
down and dips his fingers in the
blood of her son only to get the
money; and wish for another son
whose life blood might float another
quarter into his Golfers. He glee-
fully steps upon the quivering hearts
Of suffering womanhood, and grows
fat off of the downfall and ruin of
the community in which he lives.
The above is dark but not over
drawn picture of the business some
pursue.
What has this to do with "John
Beheaded - Let us see
In county where two political
parties were pretty equally divided,
one of said parties had filled all the
offices for number of years through
the influence, it was said, OF few
saloon men. The other political
party desiring to serve the people in
the capacity of otiice-holders, and in
order to overthrow and wrest the
county from the party in power, the
central committee, having the inter
est of the party in hand, made and
entered into an agreement with the
aforesaid saloon men that if they
would give them the benefit of their
influence, so that their party might
get hold of the reins of government
and control the offices of said coun-
ty, they, the said party seeking pow
err, would protect the whisky traffic
for the time of two years. Dance to
our pleasing and we will grant your
request. You may have the pleas
ure { y of looking upon ruined
homes, the weeds of widowhood,
ragged orphan children, and the
CHASTITY features of John whom you
"beheaded. -
You may listen to the signs and
agonizing groans of wretched wives
and broken-hearted mothers, and 4,
although herculean effort may be
made to prevent you from wading
in human blood, crushing hopes, and
putting out the light of many happy
homes yea, our own homes, we will
stand by You and see that John, our
John, falls victim to your desire,
The first John denounced the prac-
tice of Herod, and gave provocatlon
of offense. But this John gave no
offense. When Hcred promised to
grant the request of the danger, he
doubtless did so without any thought
of its costing John his head. But
when the committee promised to
grant the request of this dancer, it
did so with the distinct understand
ing that John would be ''beheaded. ."
Mrs. Hcrod wanted revenge. But
this committee wanted money, Of
Gra npNvar