The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-08


 whether it be the inability of the police to prove the offence against any man be- ra,ise of the inadequacy of the ordinance or inc eecrecy of the saloon, or the in- tricacies of the laws. What want to ret hold of is the fact and that have, bv nersonal observation. and by per sonal testimony. The saloons in this cIty are not closed on Sunday. Who is 10 he judged for itf Pre-eminently the man who goes into the saloon to buy a drink, the saloon keeper also for his de- fiance of the law. and the police for his timfdity and lack of vigilance.
 The second instance deserves only a passing notice.
 In local paper recently there appeared the schedule for the coming baseball sea- son. and among the first games to be played was one scheduled for Montgom- cry on Sunday. March 20. It has been impossible, after repeated attempt to get an official confirmation or denial of this item. I say 'officiar' and emphasize this because there has been almost unanimous personal testimony from the directors of the baseball association that there will be no Sunday baseball. The issue now is not what 1t was last sum- mer: then 1t was an open question be- tween Sunday ball or none; now 1t Is a plain bold question of defiance of law. That Is the only issue and that issue Is one about which no iaw-abiding citizen can hesitate. And the men and the wo- men of this city will rise up as one body and demand of the proper county off, cials the enforcement of the law to It's fullest penalty should any attempt be made to play baseball here on Sunday. The second fact that I must speak of in measuring this our city Is the lack of protection which it affords in training up your children both boys and girls. The city can never make one human being righteous but 1t can save thousands from pitfalls or else 1t can drag with its clenched fists your sons and your daught- CTS into gutters of filth and dens of black ness. And that last Is the grim work at which it is secretly engaged every hour while you wake and while you sleep.
 Is there any destruction concerning min. ors, boys under 21, excluding them from saloons? No. not one word, not a sign written over these gates of he'll to warn your sons. but brilliant lights, sparkling crystals, calling out in enticing words to the youth, who passes by, to enter just within. Beautiful and fair without, but within full of dead mems bones. And the youth timidly enters the glittering bar room, and the whole vision of sin and deviltry opens before his eyes. There just beyond is the gambling room and men call out to him. Come be a man, learn to gamble" and he passes in a lit tie further, and from thence he sees ,tht narrow passage and the dim lights and voices call to him through the night ,'come in, come in." He enters and the door is closed and all is silent again. An6 many years afterwards broken, wretch lad 2SKra afo nHa the side of a bright youth before that same saloon and they both look up again and wonder why no sign is written ovel that glittering gate of hell, and whs no man calls out to those who pass bS to hasten on and not ever to look thai way.
 Is 1t so or not? And are you standing there openly to warn those who come b, or are you, fathers, leading tho waG through that shining gate to that black hopeless pit, calling out by your exam pie to your sons to follow. and then sur prised that they have outstretched you own deprayity?
 It may seem a very insignificant tlinl to put up a sign saying mo minors al lowed in here" But many and many [ wretch will tell you that his ruin date from that day when only a boy he pass ed into his first saloon.
 have failed dismally if have no made 1t clear that the saloon Is not onl. saloon, but the entrance upon a lonl vista where room after room of vice 0 gambling and infamy is opened up be fore the mind and heart of the youth.
 And yet here we stand, timid and unre solved, unwilling even to taKe the frs step and to demand that a sign, a warn | ing, a protection be nailed up in tn doorway of these gates of hell. tellin your sons and your daughters what the are near. Let us away with all thes gllttering lights and sparkling crystal let us away with all this whited sepul chre fruit, and with painted glass door and blinds, and let us see and let ou children see what is within and who 1 within. Fair and beautiful without, bu within full of dead mems bones. Dante gives us a terrible conception O those who failed to use their wealth fo any good purpose, those who felled t put any impress upon their money. Blu how much more terrible must be tn punishment of those who use their wealt I and their property for any evil purpose \ And yet Christian men and women seer to feel no responsibility for the use O their possessions. If you have property see to 1t that it is not used for the drag I BllS uOHh Ol yOuE ltlAOW tfACu.
 These words are not spoken in an spirit of the reformer of the world; the are not spoken with the expectation c seeing any great permanent change aC comFlished in day; but they are spoke | from a heart full of sympathy and lov for our common home and for the youn men of our city. There is no bitternes in them, no personal blame, but simpl the zeal and earnestness of one who sec at least little and understands it's mear ing.
 And now the time is come for us t kneel and to receive the lasting token not of Gods hatred, but of His good wi and love towards us declared in His sol Jesus Christ.
 Let us come. therefore. to that hol sacrament with a deeper consecratio and a more determined will to do wha we may each one in our own station C life for the moral upbullding of our ow city.
 The Point of the Story.