The true northerner., 1897-10-06
Saloon Blessings.

Thompsonville, Mich Sept. %, '97.
EDITOR NORTHERNER: - To-day we
found the Northerner in the postofiice
as has been the custom for the six years
we have been here and for several
years prior, until we would as soon lose
tooth as our paper. Among other
items we found an editorial, rather in.
viting the voters of the county To use
the paper to present ideas pro and con
upon the issue now before the people
as To whether the saloon should stay
from, or come back into Van Buren
county. Although not a voter there, |
was once, and have very friendly re-
gard for the people yet, and would feel
| had shirked duty did | not unburden
myself of some choice thoughts upon
the subject now causing a turmoil IN
that peaceful section.
First, | would say let the saloon in,
as it is contrary to any known law or
precedent to deprive anyone of his per-
sOnal liberty. The saloon tends To
build up a town. The taxpayers can
sit down and rest; the license will pay
for Improvements, and fines for drunk
enness will SO swell the Golfers that no
taxes will be levied upon property. The
saloon should run wide open, SO any
one could get drink without being
obliged to be i'll and get doctors per.
scription. In our city we have only
five saloons, the population being
about i500-one saloon TO each 300
souls. No one is obliged to 90 to
another town to trade. I'VE have one
church, another is in building). As an
illustration, we would say the village
received 81, $50 license and expended
about 300 of it upon the streets. Last
year it was about the same. But one
of our saloonists has one of the finest
residences in the place.
Another good reason why the saloon
| is a good thing: The boys can enter
and see for themselves; they are not
obliged to take the word of anyone,
and they can enjoy an evening where
wine and wit flow freely. Some women
make great ado about it, but they, of
course, are too ignorant of the mani.
fold benefits to be judges
One night on passing one of our
health resorts, man came out under
the influence of liquor a little, his wife
behind him, and it was no wonder the
poor man was trying to drown his
troubles. She told him his children
went TO bed supperless and she had no
food that day. Is it any wonder men
drink? And how can such men get it
if there are no open saloons? We have
seen the village fathers in session, do
ing business for the people, so tired
and worn that they were obliged to
take something for their stomach's sake
| by invitation of a saloonist. How
could they do business for the people if
it was not for the saloons? 1t may
cause some trouble, but who is free
from trouble?
Another thing we forget is the fact that
people will have it anyhow, and if they
cannot get it at home they will go else
where for it and take their trade with
them, and they purchase heavily. 1t
may be little tough upon the wife and
children, but the habits of economy they
learn are worth great deal. Our state
law forbids minors from frequenting
saloons. Not long ago we called upon
one of our public philanthropists to call
his attention to a violation, when one
of his customers, who is a firm believer
in personal liberty, told the clerk if his
boys came in to allow them to have
what they called for. That man will
never be sorry that he gave his boys
their liberty.
A lot of fanatics have been organized
in our state, an Anti-Saloon league to
war upon one of our industries Good
Templar lodges are being organized.
Preachers are crying from the pulpits
of the wrongs of the saloon. Some
morbid pictures are drawn of the woes
of the drunkard and his family They
take JUS to the prisons, asylums, and
alms-houses, telling us the majority of
q l,o q
of drink. What are those places for if
not to keep people in2 A few murders
more or less are nothing. We must
have paupers and criminals. 1t Is not
the drink that causes it; the drink only
shows mans nature.
By all means let the saloons come
back to your county. Just think for
moment of the number of men who
want to earn living and cannot. Think
of the boys, who are deprived Of the