Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-02-10

There are men In every community
well meaning mon, good citizens In the
usual acceptation of the term, who
would not knowingly do anything pre-
judicial TO the interests OF their neigh
bors. or the community at large. These
same citizens. however, are so engrossed
with the making Of money that they
are blinded TO moral issues which are
sure To- become involved i'm bust
ness transactions In the ordinary
course OF every day life. These
moral issues refuse to become
subservient To- money making. re-
fuse to obey the beck and call Of the
god of this world. and eventually force
a public choice as to Choose We this
day. whom We will serve, God or Baal"
This choice has been forced upon many
communities In our country, and Is
being forced upon many more, including
this city and commonwealth. These
moral issues involve the all important
question. Shall the saloon be tolerated
longer. or shall st be thrown out az an
enemy TO the Individual the home and
the state'
But as It happens. there are some
business men who can see nothing but
the dollars and cents involved. They
fear a falling away OF trade, possibly
empty stores. imagine there win he less
money in circulation, a lowering OF
rents. decrease I'm property valuations
dull town. and number Of other
jack-in- the-box Bogies worked TO a fin
ish by the liquor interests to Brighten
business men into opposing the aboli-
tion OF the manufacture and sale Of in
toxicating drink The average Amer
lean business man is easily frightened,
II any issue appears that promises 10
affect his pocket book, and it is a sad
commentary on his moral equipment
that he Is so prone 10 let the glitter
and the glare OF the wealth that perish
es cast so often the path Of duty COM
pIetoly In the shade The liquor IN
terpsts alarm him by nightmare stories
Of injury TO his business, working upon
his credulity until he is up and In
arms" against disturbing the current
order OF things. against driving the
saloon out Of his community, and thus
'iniuring the town" one is uncon-
| sciously reminded OF that room in the
house Of THE Interpreter where a
man Is seen so engrossed IN raking up
muck and straws that he entirely loses
sight OF AN angel poised above him and
Offering a gold crown. if he viii only
| look up and accept H. Every man has
al some time the choice offered him Of
/ following the light Of moral obligation
! and walking in the highway OF civic
| riphteousness. or else turning aside at
| the beck or "Demas" 10 prospect I'm
/ his silver mine. II rs not comforting
to reflect that the number who choose
the former are but small handful a.
compared with those who elect the lat
| ter: but the history of any business
community viii show that where q
straight moral issue is forced on iti
business men. with prospective financial
loss 81 accepted. a few viii decline q
accent this moral issue. such mer
render themselves open 20 tho eharg'
of not being able 20 see very far. Iheil
Dyes are blinded that they may not see
their ears deafened that they may moi
hear while their reasoning powers ar'
sadly blunted Times may bee "a httle
out of Joint for the while. due 90 chang
ing socio-oconomlc conditions. but thel
aro bound TO right themselves shortly
and when once more on even keel thes'
very Same men viii be so sratined viii
the change that they would under n'
| circumstances return to former condl
tions