The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1881-07-21
ADDRESS
OF THE PROHIBITION CONVENTION CONVENED IN
JACKSON JULY 20, 1881, To THE
PEOPLE or MISSISSIPPI.

# ADDRESS
, OF THE PROHIBITION CONVENTION CONVENED 1
JACKSON JULY 20, 1881, To THE
PEOPLE or MISSISSIPPI
n We, the representatives of the people Q
Mississippi from all sections of the State
! from all professions and pursuits, and fror
all political parties and races profoundly con
WINGED of the evils and perils OF intemperane
and the liquor traffic, and that our only relic
7 is in legal and constitutional prohibition, an
invoking the favor OF heaven upon our caus
md efforts, do make this our solemn and care
' ful declaration TO our fe1lowcitizens in tn
: State.
II is the calm and unanimous voice of thi
Convention that, the liz uor traffic does more
10 exhaust the resources retard the pros pc rity
iebauch the morals aud degrade the manhood
of our commonwealth than any or all other
evils combined, our deliverance and progress:
can only be achieved by wise prohibitory laws
aud their faithful administration.
To secure such legislation which conf.
lentIy believe will overthrow the liquor traf
&c and arrest lis colossal evils to the great
happiness and peace of society, earnestly
invoke the counsel and aid Of every good and
patriotic citizen in the State.
We regard it an occasion of profound con-
graduation that the people of all parties, re-
igions and colors can meet on one common
platform to advance a great public measure
without any conflict OF interests, without Gre
| ttIng or exciting any party faction, without
4wak ening any religious prejudice, and with
acre and now, assert with pIainness and en-
| phasis that this in no sense partisan move
| ment. We hare nothing to do ruth party poll
| tics. We seek not in the least TO disturb the
! party affiliations of any citizen. We have only
| one aim; we animated by,enlY one motive,
| the advancement of the material and moral
| prosperity of our beloved commonwealth, the
| promotion of the health, wealth, liberty and
| happiness of our people without any distinction
! Whatever. We shall place candidates in
| the field, we shall not grasp for the spOils OF
| office; we deprecaie and denounce the attempts
! Of our enemies TO drag our righteous cause into
the conte lions of parties, thereby pref udlclns
and injUring the movement.
! We further declare that this prohibition
movement is not inspired by any motion or
| purpose to atiict, or antagonIze liquor men,
out to oppose the liquor traffic within the Inn
It's of tins State. Believing in the doctrine of
L universal brotherhood not against
men but against a business, which, though now
iegalized is blighting and whitening in its
Effects upon society. If other occupations
would be sought and this traffic have no longer
an army of agents and employees IN Its ser
vice, their individual usefulness and happiness
would be promoted and multiplied thousands /
saved to the people of Mississippi.
The liquor power by secret and corrupt /
agencies is seeking to secure the nomination
and election of men to the legislature pledged |
against any prohi bition refol H. who viii resist
tue passage of stringent laws and refuse to |
allow the people to vote upon a prohibitory /
anne dment to the Constitution. We warn the I
people against such an influence and issue.
We ask not for candidates or pledges. We Will
only ask that the sacred right of petition shall [
not be violated or denied, and to this end that
candidates for the legislature shall hold them
selves uncommitted TO the enemies of prohibi-
tion.
l. The right of seIf-protection is inherent in
all governments, and carries with it a great
and noble duty. No government can aban-
don the right nor cvade the duty. III it have
reason to believe that enemy is undermin-
ing its power and plotting in any way what
ever its destruction" the obligation Is imper-
alive, either TO destroy the enemy or ehectual-
~ battle his designs. The principle here
enuncIated applies with equal force to the
right and duty of government to protect socle-
y against evils well as enemies. Hence
laws against adulterated food, against the
communication of Contagious diseases by the
establishment of quarantin restrictions, and
forbidding the sale of common virulent
poisons.f Whatever, therefore, entails upon
society disease and misery, poverty and
Indebtedness, and Is, IN Its allure, destructive
10 industry, wealth, morals and reason, often
making It's victims dangerous, always injuri-
Gus TO society, must be proper subject OF leg
islative suppression. The obligation of the
commonwealth to protect society against it
;annot be otherwise than supreme.
ID All governments above barbarsm, take
the family Constitution under their protec
ton. They recognize and act upon the prin-
clple that the perpetuity of government and
the progress OF christian civilization depend
very largely upon the purity and indssolu (
bility of the family Constitution. Whatever
that Constitution, the Intolerable bane OF
thousand of once happy homes and the fatal
destroyer of thousands more, the State is
bound to suppress by wise legislation.
81. 1t is the clearly acknowledged duty of
every wise government 10 exercise watchful
care over the sources of wealth and poverty,
seeking by wise legislation to encourage and
develop the one, and to prevent and remove
the other. Whatever, therefore, saps nation I
al prosperity and wealth. aud entails poverty
and want is legitimate subject of legislative
enactment for its suppressIGn-
4rh 1t ia conceded BY all that the duty Of the
State to legislate for the prevention and snip
preston of crime is imperative. Whatever,
therefore, is the cause of three-foSrths of the
crime of the country, as attested by the judges
of England and America for 200 years, must
be legitimate subject of legislative prohibit
ton.
Recognizing therefore, the fact that the :
and sale of intoxicating liquors !
as a beverage, is the prolific source of the evils
an evil of such magnitude l
as to jeoparuiEe the highest interests of the
State, filing il with drunkenness and crime,
entailipg poverty and wretchedness, and be- :
coming the intolerable curse of thousands
of homes throughout the land and tue fatal
destroyer of thousands more, this Convention
feels constrained to utter, with all possible en-
phasis, the solemn conviction that the question
Of the .sprchibitiop of this traffic is one the =
State cannot longer evade II eanAot discharge
It's high and solemn duty as government, Is
while it leaves society prey TO the lost mer- y,
CHESS destroyer ever known 10 man. There =,
II
ResoEred, That the President of this Con- VI
Fention @pEeiIt an Executive Committee of =
fifteen, two from each Congressional District
md three from the State at large, five of whom D
,hall constitute q quorum. and whose duty it
hall be-
First-To prepare and submit to the Legis- n
ature at its next session, q memorial setting Il
orth the ezilg of the liquor traffic in this =
state, and, in the name of this Convention.
'raying and demanding that an amendment N
Q the Constitution prohibiting said train in T.
his State, shall be passed aud submitted TO
ne people for ratification rejection at the
ext succeeding general election.
Second-To facilitate and further the organ TT
zatIo1 of Prohibition Glubs IA every county i
nd town throughout the State. aud dissent th
ate accurate and reliable information among -
be people 70 the evils of the liquor traffic. 81
Third-To render such service may be
eemed proper in the preparation of the con-
amendment above referred to, and n
uch % ary eemmiftee Of the Legislature
harged with the special duty may request
FOarfh-To call any Conventions, State and
Ountys which may hereafter become necessa-
y. either for the purpose of promoting the
atlhcatiOn Of such sn amendment 10 the s.
Constitution as the Legislature may adopt, or z
Aouid the Legislaturs fail e refuse 70 pass II
BE amendment desired in order 70 secure all
eedfaI repressed legislation, and protect the
ealth. lives and property Of the people,
gMInss tho evils Of the whisky trAfnc- Ni
Aeegegeds That any Vacancy In said Commit Il
d may be 6lleh by the President Of this Con- an
ention, Or by any three men1beFs OF the Conn eel
1ftteas and e Mt the Cammie4se constitufed lee