Blue-grass blade., 1892-02-20
Lexington Blasted.

-.--o~O-
From the Nicholasville Democrat.)
Lax, loose and lascivious Lex
ington is still catching it from all
sides. The big Three Ms, Moore
in the Blade, McGarvey from the
pulpit, and Morton from the bench
are keeping it lively for the trans
gressors. In Morton's instruc-
tions to the Grand Jury, he said:
"The next step in investigation |
will call your attention to, gentle
men, is the investigation of the
official lives of the officials of your
county. This investigation, sew
eral times year, is a high incen-
tive to the servants of the public
for better duty. You must not
expect these officers not to err.
The law does not contemplate in
fallibility by the officers of the
public, but it does expect honest
effort. If you find any officers of
this county who have been guilty
of drunkenness in Office-the law
does not tolerate the use of strong
drink by its officers to such an ex-
tent that they neglect the duties
of their office"
The statute in regard to pools,
trusts, etc.. was referred to, and
then the charge was continued.
"You all know" said the speaker,
''that the city of Lexington has
been unusually agitated by the
discussion of what has been known
as the morals of Lexington.
Nothing can be done by the
law without a proper public senti-
ment behind it. This sentiment
to my mind. must not be sporadic,
rising on the crest of the waves one
day and lying quiescent and
lethargic the next. There must
be a constant effort, a constant
pressure, or nothing will be ac-
complished. l think the efforts of
these gentlemen who have been
agitating the morals of Lexington
will not prove to have been in
vain.
II regard the pool room as con-
Quoted the year around the great
Est vice that ever held this city in
it's grasp. The comments of this
court in its last charge have had
much to do with starting a move
ment that is growing wider all the
time.
"Let the city of Lexington now
60 to work and pass an ordinance
making it fine of $500 day for
running these rooms in this city
and they will be abolished. Grant
that the horsemen of this country
are benefited by the selling of
pools in connection with the racing
of horses, even this does not pre-
sent proper reason for the run
ming OF pool room in this city.
Fourteen faro banks strung out in
line could not affect the morals
of this city as much as these pool
rooms running day and night.
Only the men who know the game
would play faro. There are some
people who would have no taste for
this sort ofthing. But everybody
in this city knows the Kentucky
horses from the gray-headed man
to the young boy.
"The lecture of Mr.. McGarvey
rather weakened the scope of
these moral measures than strength
ened them. Had he adhered to
one subject such as proper mu-
nicipal Legislation for the eternal
abOlishment af pool rooms in this
city it might have effected more.
"There is another thing what
we call the social evil. 1t has ex-
listed for thousands of years, and
there is no way to remedy this
evil that has been found efficient.
The problem is no nearer to solu-
ton to day than it was hundreds of
years ago. As long as men are
lustful and women afflicted with
poverty so long will the latter be
blasted with the sins ofthe former.
"You will not be able to drive
these people all out of the city of
Lexington. This is an impossi-
bility. Ifyou drive them from
one part of the city they will go
to another. l have taken this
ground before. Keep them in
most unfrequented parts of the
city.
"But there are other houses be-
sides houses of ill-fame that you
should look after, aud lay the
weight of an iron hand upon
them. Of such kind are houses
of assignatiOn, where young men
and women meet for purposes OF
shame. These are but feeders to
the larger institutions. You can
not be too severe with the keepers
of such places as this. Hunt
them down as you would a dog as
the enemies of their kind.
"Elder j. w. McGarvey ad-
dressed the congregation of the
Broadway Christian Church Sun
day evening. He said: