| 378 this effect; and we think that they did not; but that it is certain none can deny. Further, there was at the time the election was held a person waiting to put into operation a "new saloon," and waited only till the vote should be had to decide. As soon, therefore, as it was ascertained that the vote was "against incorporation," this new place of business was opened, so that now Lamoni may boast that it has two saloons, for its three hundred inhabitants, one for each one hundred and fifty-Saints and all.
The impression that the elders preaching abroad, and the Herald, have tried hard to make, is that the Reorganized Church was opposed to the vice of drunkenness; and that the tippling, drinking habits of Salt Lake City were the products of apostasy, which adherence to and practice of the principles of the gospel as held by us would do away with; and some success in making this impression has been had; but it would seem that somebody had blundered in making such statements, if judgment is to pass upon the instance of Lamoni, for it is the only place which the editor of the Herald has any knowledge of in which the policy of municipal government practically lies in the members of the church, and when an opportunity was offered to exercise that control, it was allowed to lapse into the hands of the venders of intoxicating drinks and their supporters and victims. We confess that we are shocked; and though we expect that this screed will possibly give hurt to some, we can not withhold.
We have been radically opposed to the use and sale of intoxicating drinks, as a beverage, since we were twelve years of age, and from fifteen years have always been engaged, in public and in private, in trying to educate against the evil. We have known many an excellent man, and spiritual, who can trace his downfall to the influence that places where drink has been offered for sale, have thrown round him; and we could now name some who are, or have nearly become victims to the insidious wiles of this enemy to sobriety. How then can Saints permit the traffic to gain a foothold where their influence may stop it? How can they permit even a remote chance to put themselves on the right side of this question escape them? How can they afford to let slip an opportunity to make the places where they dwell, the town, village, or hamlet, where they are citizens, the places where sobriety abides,-the places where no man is permitted to publicly invite the wayward and weak, the erring drinker, and the unfortunate "dipso maniac" to his sure overthrow and destruction?
We began this warfare a long time ago; and we shall certainly continue it. Whether we fight a gaining or a losing battle, so far as our personal influence is concerned, we shall improve every opportunity, and make use of every means in our power and right to use to oppose, restrict, overcome, and prevent the setting up and maintaining of beer, and wine, or whisky shops in any society where we live.
This possesses the merit of being honest and discloses a disposition to cover up nothing, though by expressing the
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