Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1893-09-09
A VIEW OF CALIFORNIA.
Llh,or Dsserel Nepn

Ifit will not DO sShing too much OF
you, would be pleased II you WouIl
allew me the use ola small portion Of
your valuable space to present Few
items in connectiog with an article
published In the DEsEREr WEEKLY
the 2nd irst., entitled "rhe Decadtnce
Of Modesty," which is given % ~ ex'
cefpt from the san Ffanclsco Chronicle
The article referred 10 asks the quos'
lion, Chow, then, eau we hope T.
cultivate modesiy In the rising genera
lion when it is hemmed Ia and
surrounded by glazing and shameless
immodesty." AMI 1t might have
extended the Interrogation by asking,
GLOW can a people who show by their
own laws that have been enacted b.
their own Representatives IN the state
legislature, which allow the sabbath
day 10 be openly uesecretol, expect
that modesty could do otherwise thah
wantR
1 have noticed, during the time that
have been In this state on mission,
that the sabbath day 10 looked iorWati
to with tue greatest pleasure ~ a um'
for taking part In concert, tuoaief
excursion OF general holiday, ny the
great majority Of the people. The
sllooukeepeT keeps his Agureou deno open
anu N paifonlEpd ~ freely as on week
days, aud the youth " the state nre
Mfcud TO see the effect that n has o.
the public, OF remain Ia the house. II
the statement be true that there are
10000 establishments in the state deti'
ing Ia Intoxicating drinks, anu they
are kept open on sunday, how eau The
PEOPLE expect their children to avoil
tuch evilo while the parents sustain
anu enc ursge hucn things by continu'
irg TO send men ~ the Legislature 10
ezlrtsa their wants pud thosr fepTe'
aentauvca repeatedly fat TO adopt
measures 20 Aoolith Huch open viola
ton Of tns commandment 70 keep the
sttbath day hoiy2
Ifthe people really want the morsls
OF their childTou projected, why do
they not 40 90 work right NJ tue root oil
the evil aud upf.Ot II ny ennoung laws
that arc IN k,ui lug with the object u
b. obtained, and thcu elect officers
who will $50 that these laws are en-.
ioTcua? We have TO meet tue Old H.
sues that our church believes Ia IA
plurality OF wives, while the oOmpiAiu-
or will admit with tie next breath that
some Of the cities Of California, " not
all, have piid police officer palr0lliug
those streets that are INHABITED by
prostitutes and opium dens, and who
h quite NJ prompt la protecting their
dens ~ any ltuer part Of the city. The
principal difficulty that seems 10 con.
front those hauntH IL that they mus
not keep their doors open. But they
are allowed 10 lit at the window
dressed Ia cUatumos In Keeping with
their profession, And solicit patronage.
Ana the writer OF this article, hAv.
ing occasion 10 pass through
street In that portion OF the city Of nan
ffAnolsco,s saw a police oiiicer standing
al one OF those windows, Joking with
the females within, while at the same
time there were boys oi sixteen or
eighteen years talking with OihofH Of
the same class nvAr by.
The people tell ms that they cannot
think with any degree Of ailowa CO
upon MOrmons or thsir religion, anu
nj the SAINT time they use tnelr money
to protect such institution As r. erred
10 above. Is II any wonder that a
servant OF God, having the Gospel ~
preach 10 them, finds low 10 listen 10
mimi The writer has met several who
pretended 10 listen to his testimony,
aud who promised TO Investigate, aud
asked him 10 come to their home nj
stated times, anu then ran away fsOm
home 10 avoid an interview,
10 seems almost impossible 10 IND
any ono who will listen TO our tesu.
mOny. II n meeting 10 advertised
there 10 seldom anyone attends. Or N
any at Nil, they dou't come toe second
time, because our measage " anthg.
onistic W their evil practices. Re.
ligion OF all denominations II at n
great discount with the people hero.
Asa result the churches are sparingiy
attended, and that principally by
ladies. In Stockton one Of the moe,
influential miuislers, n Methodist, said
week ago that he Ii geing to ioavo
that city because he uid not yet
enough pay TO support hrs family.
And ho does not hire help, but 10 very
economical. Ou the next ntfeot there
IL nice little church for sale, a notice
up in front being to that effect.
Il seems almost impossible ~ md n
person who will talk on religion. n
we start the subject they Will walk III
AID leave ul, And all We can DO Ii "
continue our searching until VIZ either
hnd "a righteous person or nnd tneft
are none here. We noticed, while IN
Stockton, that music aud singing on
tue streets did not Induce people u
follow tho beautiful strains 10 IA tenl
that was pitched for tue purpose Of
holding "gOspel" meetings IN.
IL It IL the silver question that II
causing such conditions It Il 20 b,
hoped that our lawmakers Will com,