The Kalispell bee., 1901-03-19
4. l.. c..
FLOUR.
BLOOD MONEY

A Sermon by Reverend J. w. MOI
ris, Phi. D.
At the Methodist church last even
ing, DR.. Morris took his text from
Matthew 276, as follows:
And the chief priests took the sill
yer pieces and said, it is not Lawful
to put them into the treasury, because
it is the price of blood"
DR.. Morris said:
We look upon the Jews at the time
of Christ as the most cruel and heart
less people on earth, and yet there
were some things they would not do
They would not take the money fol
which Judas sold his master and put
it with the treasury, because it was
the price of blood.
We have way of putting a price
on crime in this country and thereby
make it a legitimate business. The
license system has so fastened the sa.
loon upon the people that it is almost
impossible to free them from its
slavery l am not going to raise any
cry against the laws as they now ex
list. And as long as the law guaran
tees protection to the saloon and
makes it a legitimate business, am
in favor of maintaining the law. But
license is wrong in principle, because
the saloon lives by making drunkards
manufacturing criminals, robbing
wives and children and running men
soul and body. Such money derived
from license is "the price of blood"
Again, when we build houses and
let them to lewd women and then re-
ceive a paltry tax of two dollars q
week from each for the perpetuation
of this crime, it is blood money. For
we are setting price on virtue and
selling out at low cost.
And now it is proposed by some I!
reduce the new anti-gambling law of
Montana to a virtual license, and
thereby swell the citys Golfers ane
satisfy the conscience of the people
Such revenue so received at tn
peril of the commandments is bloOs
money.
Now l want to lay down a few plai1
and simple propositions for your con
sideration.
/. That which is wrong in princi
pie canot be made right by mere
sanction of law. Law does not alte
the principle.
2 Whatever tends to break dow,
the law, undermine the home and de-
strOy the morals of a community.
criminal in it's nature.
}. If we set price on crime by re
ceiving paltry tax as satisfaction for
the offense the community is party
to the crime-it becomes "particeps
criminis."
4, If we license gambling in the
city to increase the revenues and
make business lively, then to be con-
sistent we ought to levy a tax on
thieves and thugs, and it would great
ly increase business. AS soon as the
bars are down there would be great
rush of business.
5. No legitimate and honest busi-
ness is enhanced by these open dives
of vice! None, unless it be the business
of those who are letting and have
been letting houses for illicit purposes
in open violation of law And such
business" does depreciate the value
of property in the neighborhood. Why
is it so?
Getting down now to the cold logic
OF facts, l want to affirm in the first
place that the saloon is at the founda
tiOn of these evils. and l don't say
this with any malice toward individ-
uals. respect those saloon men who
are doing legitimate business and
keeping an orderly house, but have
heard of no gambling outside of the
saloons. They are the harbingers of
evil. They import the troops of lewd
actors. They run the vulgar shows
They furnish the "Poorman's resort
What for? Is it because they are so
generous? No, it is simply that they
may entice the poor man in, that they
may fleece their victims, find every
low passion and send him on his way
of wretchedness and sorrow. am not
saying now to close up the saloons,
but put them under restrictions. Why
should they run day and night and
carry on their pernicious work on the
Lords Day while all other business
closes?
Further, l affirm that these places
OF lewdness and crime do not help
the legitimate and <honest business of
the town. Even if it did, the Word
of God pronounces a woe upon any
people who build town with blood,
or establish city with iniquity."
That Is Just what I am cOntendinp