The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1900-02-22
A Thoughtful Historical View of
the Saloon.

A Thoughtful Historical View of
the Saloon.
At the present time thoughtful men
are sorely perplexed over the saloon
problem now confronting them for solu-
ton. The majority of men in their calm
and reflective moments desire both to do
the right. and to see the right prevail.
1t should be freely conceded that it is
often most difficult to ascertain beyond
a peradventure what is the wise course
to pursue in reference to many matters
of public policy, and so multiform are
the attending circumstances that men
must not have their honor and integrity
impeached for holding opposing views
as to methods of procedure. The Ii
duor traffic has long been an enigma to
lawmakers, and none understand so
thoroughly the difficulties of the solution
as those officials who are specially
charged with the responsible duty of
enacting law and enforcing order. The
great law of self-preServation authorizes
and empowers the sovereign state to fos-
ter every enterprise that makes for its
welfare and to restrain and. if need be,
entirely prohibit, every menace to its
prosperity, but when and under what
circumstances it is righteous to resort
70 this first essential law is not always
easily determined.
Historically considered. the time was
IN the evolution If society that the vend-
mo If Intoxicating drinks was lust as
legitimate and honorable ain the eyes of
The law" as was the sale of dry goods or
groceries. The older men of the country
can distinctly remember when every
where they were freely and lawfully ex-
nosed for sale. All classes of society
without shame or fear of censure became
patrons of the bar that ran without let
or hindrance" of law. In the process OF
evolution differentiation set in, reveal
/ ing a characteristic difference in the ua-
lures Of the two kinds of industry. The
one has developed into the great indus-
trial world that feeds, warns, clothes,
and builds tip the race of mankind, CIV
ing not only the decencies and neceSsl-
ties of life, but also its comforts and
refnements. 1t has justified its right to
service by the credentials of happiness
and blessing that it brings in its hands.
To it the people joyfully extend the
golden scepter of approval and shout
aloud, 'Long live the industries !! The
other, too, has grown and spread in
direction Numerically opposed to tn:
above. 1t soon produced condition OF
affairs wherein drunk as lord was
the neatly coined epigram descriptive OF
the times. Being evil in its nature, the
whole progeny went on developing still
more hopeless conditions like the degen-
crate age before the deluge. each genera
ton being worse than the one preceding:
The plentiful harvest of drunkenness and
debauchery gathered from the ,tnrc-
strained sowing in course of time chat.
1enqed the attention of all lovers of good
order and industry to the frightfr' con
ditions of affairs and awakened their
drowsv consciences to the Importance OF
setting into operation repressive meas
ures to stav the mad course of events.
Here then began the battle that has not
vet been fought to finish. The better
sort Of men often moderate dram drink.
ors themselves. with little thought OF
wholly abolishing the drink traffic began
m agitation for regulative and restiic-
tive measures. designed as it were. to
ircarcerate the 1iduor business within the
safe barriers of legal enactments, mas
much as it had proven unsafe to rim
at large" upon the public Commons
along with the other industries. The
first regulative enactment was directed
against the vendors themselves under The
mistaken apprehension that the source OF
evil was resident in the men and not IN
herent in the business. Thence every
vendor was commanded to furnish sat
isfactorv evidence of good moral chat
acter as a prerequisite to ENGAGING III
the sale of intoxicants. God-fearing
men of sound moral character were not
slow to cornplv with the requirements
and enter the business.
What anpallino results Instead OF
oIevatinq the business = n higher plat
form. the evil business degraded inc
vendors nv degrees until scarcely one IN
multitude dared call himself respect
able. How changed At first the ven
doris business formed no barrier to the
hest social and religious circles; but IN
process of time a transformation set IN
so that he became a stranger IN the
house of his fathers and as social lsh-
maelite has not ceased to dwell in the
desert What house is now open to
him and what social circle admits him
among its happy participants? ne
chasm has been widened by the causes.
Ist. Society has become more discrim--
mating. ed. The business has dragged
the vendor farther down the mountain
into the foggy valley and so changed his
nature that he does not enjoy the asso-
Citations of the refined and cultured. The
buiness that holds the social life in con-
slant jeopardy will not permit its EN-.
ployes to feel at home in the company OF
those upon whom it preys. 1t is a fear
full penalty exacted as an entrance fee
to his vocation. Signer of the saloon
petition, would you take pride in walk
ing down the street in open daylight
locked ams with vendor of the still?
Would you invite him to the social life
Of your home to be companion to your
good wife and children? Would you
like 10 take your family into his saloon
and say: "This is the man that / help
a Il - e H. 81.