Amador ledger., 1904-02-26
The License Ordinance Again.

conduct in passing what you term a
radical law in reference to the saloons,
in which you say in substance that
their action would only be indorsed bv
the religious cranks. From that re-
mark | infer that you think the SUPER
visors exceedingly cranky. Now, Mr..
Editor, l am quite sure that all truly
religious people and most all moral peO-
pie will indorse the action of the board !.
1t surely does not need any argument
to prove to a moral man that the in
huence of the saloon is bad, when 85
per cent of the crimes come through
the saloon. do not suppose any of
our supervisors are total abstainers.
but they know the influence of the sa-
loon, and in the language of one of
them, they want their children brought
up under better influences. The sa-
looms are looked upon by moral men as
so many schools of iniquity, and when
one hundred and thirty-five men. (that
being the number licensed in Amador
county, appear before the supervisors
asking for a continuance of their being.
and with four houses of ill-fame stand
ing in the background without license.
and these saloons with their slot
machines and gam bling devices asking
for permit to continue to demoralize
the youth of the land, all for SIS a
quarter, do you WONDER Mr.. Editor,
that these men think it time to call a
halt and throw some restriction around
the saloon. l am fully persuaded if the
people at large know the factors i'm the
case they will indorse the ordinance as
passed. cannot see that it need work
any hardship on man of a good moral
character such as is required by law to
keep saloon. Please give this place
In your paper. S. II. PHILLIP.
Our correspondent truly SAYS that
1T Is needless to argue that the ten
dency OF the saloon system is bad.
The Ledger has never disputed the
proposition, but on the contrary has re-
peatedly admitted it. Indeed, no one
disputes it, not even the most slavish
victim OF the liquor habit. He knows
better than the inexperienced can tell
him the hell that he has kindled within
his organization, and that sooner or
later the consuming fires will work to
the surface, showing in the bleared and
bloodshot eyes, the blOated and sensu-
Gus features. These are the disfiguring
marks that nature has affixed to the
violation OF her laws, and which adver-
tise in unmistakable characters the
physical and moral wreck which has
been wrought. The evil derives it's
strength from the moral weakness of
human nature-the lack of will power
to overcome the habit or to resist the
temptation thereto. Even the penal
ties OF ruined health and the prospect
OF premature grave are insufficient to
a M nf h., L
downward course. The cause lies deep
down in the make up of the individu
How to reach it effectively is the prob
lem. We do not believe. it can be
effectively solved even by the wiping
out of the saloon by prOhibitory enact
ment. The weakness of human nature
would still remain, and probably dam
med up in one direction, would mani
fest. itself in another. Certainly it is
not going to be modified by the ordin-
ance which the supervisors have adopt
ed. That neither raises the license,
nor limits the number of saloons. It
requires the applicant for liquor
license to feed the printer, the
lawyer and the girety companies, and
crawl to his nearest neighbors in order
to secure certificate of good moral
reform.
We decidedly differ with our re-
ligious friends who think that purely
moral reforms can be brought about
by the enactment of civil law. All
sumptuary laws passed at the instance
of religious sentiment, aud intended to
help the cause of religion, have proved
abOrtive. Even the straightest re-
16InniGt w hon
laws of the New England States in the
early days of the country, as samples
OF fanaticism. We have no doubt in
years to come the calling upon the
temporal powers to aid in controlling
purely moral reforms, will be viewed in
the same light.
The most amazing part of it is that
Christian ministers should thus ask the
law makers to do what they claim is
alone to accomplish. Where is the
authority for their action in the
example or teaching of their divine
master? He scorned all worldly alli-
ances. He depended upon the spiritual
forces-the power of right living, and
the reward which it carries within
tooOii w OfOiOOi1IO pAO lOrC0o vi OWL.
He never asked that men be made good
by removing all temptation out of their
path, but by destroying the desire to
do wrong by the one desire to do right.
And that is just the way the world is
to be reformed, if at all. The princi-
pies of Christianity, it is claimed, are
destined to bring about the millenial
era by the banishment of evil-by a
fair stand-up fight between the two
contending forces of good and evil. To
retreat from this position, and to call
upon the law making body to help, is
apt to create the impression that Chris
tlanity is admittedly failure even in
the estimation of it's sincere advocates.
The writer is not willing to concede
this position. He believes still that
right is stronger than wrong; that in
the struggle for mastery the moral
forces will eventually assert their
supremacy over human nature, by
their own Inherent power alone.-ED.
Miss Frene r.. Matson announces to
the public of Jackson and vicinity that
she has organized a class in piano
music, and would be pleased to add to
it any pupils desiring lessons. She is
thorough musician, and assures salts
faction. Terms so cents per lesson.
Fresh picked olives of the season
Just received; Csc per gallon. Nettles'
Market.