The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1899-03-22
TrainInr schools of u,lI.

To the Editor: have read with some in
terest the late discussion upon the saloon
question. To say that l am surprised" at
the stand which some Of our eminent
clergymen have taken in favor of its pro-
psgatlon as worklngman's club, and fos-
tering 1t as a necessity" is putting 1t
mildly. To speak the truth, am shocked
completely.
How In the face of modern progress in
Christianity and the advance In civilization
these super-educated gentlemen can pub
licly state that the drinking saloon is a
necessity" is preposterous In the extreme.
Yet they who have pledged themselves to
the defence Of Christ and His gospel have
dared to sanction the continuance of these
training schools OF hell" They are moth
ing less.
Here are trained, by the agents Of Satan,
men to become murderers, thieves, assas-
sins, burglars, liars, swindlers, suicides,
wife-beaters, inhuman fathers and hus-
bands and host more which do not ap-
pear In the regular category Of criminals,
but are Just as vile as the more hardened
ones. The list Of professional and other
criminals directly traceable to the drink
saloon is too extensive. and too we'll known
to yourself as editor of paper.
These clergymen may as well teach the
people that the gambling and opium
dens" are a necessity, the bookmaker or
race course also necessity in modern
civilization. Yet St. Paul distinctly states
In his epistles mo drunkard car enter the
kingdom Of God" Why then should these
so-called ministers Of God advocate the
continuance Of the resorts which produce
drunkards' On the face Of it, they prove
themselves not ministers OF God, but Of the
evil one, Tor they are traitors TO Gods
cause IN advocating the saloon in sny way
whatsoever.
II the saloon be necessity, thea snnul
the laws punisa'ng the logical product Of
saloons, and let loose upon society horde
Of criminals OF every class. saloons make
criminals, and are responsible 10 society
for Orercr0wd.d prisons, insane Asyiums,
poorhouses, etc. etc. Close the saloons
and society viii be the better and more dig
nihed; less pEupers, less Ia Dor troubles, an
improved condition generally in eyerY
branch OF civilization The nation, too,
will become an example 10 other nations Of
q standard Of morality never before at
tained in the worlds history.
Bat il Is, natural assuu ption, and logi-
cal deduction or inference, thatthe clergy
men who defend the saloons and would dub
them poor workingmen's clubs" have
either their church rolls so full OF proprie-
tors OF these dens Of wickedness, OF prob
ably good sprnkliDg Of brewers and dis
rllers, that they are afraid to voice the
true feelings OF their conscience, and to
maintain good salary for themselves pre-
fer 10 stife that at the expense OF their
own souls salvation. All / would say to
these "blind guides" is, beware!
The leaders OF the nation, though not
students OF Gods law, are wiser than they,
for God be praised for ~ they have in
serted in the New Army bill clause
prohibiting the salo OF the vile stuff
In the army camps. They haye realized
the incalculsble damage resulting from it
to the army. Down with the saloonl and
prosperity follows as a natural result.
Z. Z. BRADIocK.