San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1881-08-11
To the People Of Texas.
FELLOW CITIZENS

the city of Dallas on tho 10th day OF
June last, there was organized tho
estate Prohibition Alliance" and
tho undersigned were appointed by
said Alliance an Executive Commit
tee, "whoso duty it shall be to take
charge OF and give direction to the
work, subject ouly to such control as
may be assumed by the Alliance
itself"
Said executive committee having
met in the city of Waco, on the 4th
day of July, A. ID. 1881, determined
to issue a brief address to you ON the
all-important subject Ct the legal and
constitutional prohibition of the i'm
pcrtation, manufacture and sale OF
Intoxicating liquors, except for med
icinal, mechanical, scientific and sac
ramental purposes
That the use of intoxicating liquors
is the great, the giant curse Of our
land, is, we think, beyond all reason
able doubt. We appeal to the expe-
rience and observation of all persons
in the State, and especially to every
suffering wife and child, whose hus-
band and father has been tho victim
of this unmitigated curse, to sustain
us in affirming the above proposition.
Now, fellow citizens, the great Of
fort of tho present movement is, il
possible, to put stop, at once and
forever, to this crying evil. Will you
give us your aid and cooperation in
this grand, glorious and phlilanthro-
pic work? In the name of suffering
humanity, we beg you to do SO. We
think our last Legislature was guilty
of gross outrage in failing to sub
nit an amendment to the. constitu
ton to the voters OF the State, as it
was requested to do by the petitions
of many thousands of our people.
We think it is great wrong fol-
our State to be in partnership in the
liquor traffic! Every. liquor vendor
in the State is in partnership with the
State and with the county in which
his trade is conducted! Every dol
lars worth Of liquor sold is SO much
revenue to the State and county
and the State and county are SPAR
T1cEps cRIMINls to the terrible evils
that result from said traffic! Is il
not time that this unholy partner
! ship should be prohibited by the or
Iganic law of the 1andy We verify
think it is, and hence we appeal to
you to aid us. "
We therefore respectfully suggest
that you make it point to require Il
full and unequivocal pledge on the
part of every candidate for the legis
lature in the State, to favor the sub
mission of the prohibition amendment
to the constitution to the voters OF
the State, SO that there shall be full
and fair issue submitted upon the
question. If said candidate shall
fail to make this pledge, then refuse
him your vote, whether democrat, re-
publican or greenbacker. Bring out
your best men who will favor this
great measure and vote for them.
We do not think it advisable to
come in conflict with any of the great
political parties, or to form o new
one, but we do think it best for all
parties to have a fair expression of
the voters of Texas on this great
question of prohibition. If the peo-
pie of Texas say let this destructive
traffic go on as heretofore. then the
friends of prohibition will submit
but if they say it must be stopped,
then stop it must.
We therefore appeal to every pa
triot and philanthropist to aid us.
We especially appeal to every wife,
mother, sister and daughter to give
their influence in this behalf. We
have q strong and wiley enemy to
meet, who controls millions of dollars,
and will spend it freely to defeat MS.
But let us. be courageous for the
right. God will bless us, and all
good men and women who have pro-
perry considered the subject, we
trust, will aid us in achieving glori-
GUS victory over the liquor fend, that
is now the blight and curse OF Texas.
We respectfully suggest that there
be alliances formed and organized in
every precinct in each county in the
State to cooperate with the State
Alliance and Executive Committee,
and that each alliance report its or
g1nization to this committee. These
alliances will not necessarily embrace
only those who are in favor Of pro
h;bltioD, but we invoke the co-opera-
ton Of all who believe that the peo-
pie of the State have g right to
express their views on subject OF
such vital importance at the ballot
box. We invoke of such alliances.
and every friend Of the cause, n con-
tribution 10 aid the committee in dis
ssminating proper papers and pam
phlots advocating the cluse OF pro
hibition. Such contributions may
be forwarded 10 W. ID. Jackson,
president Of the Executive Committee
at Waco, Texas, and the committee
will see tiIst the funds viii be prop
erly appropriated
We respectfallyrequcst that al The
newspapers IN Texas be requested to
publish the above.
Ra.euecfnIir-