The weekly clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1863-1882, 1882-08-23
TO THE PEOPLE.

Having been elected General Organizer Of
the Prohibition Movement in Mississippi. /
wish to make some statements in regard to
the work before us, and some reasons for it.
l. The Whiskey traffic is in no way bene-
fetal to the State, nor is it "a necessary evil
1t IS destructive, viewing II from any stand
point. imposing an enormous burden of taxa
ton for which ii makes no adequate returns
1t paTalyzes productive industry, peoples our
Penitentiary. Insane Asylums, and county
poor-houses. Il bankrupts man and woman
hood, cerrupts moral and social life. Inhicts
physical and mental diseases thai inevitably
ultimates in imbecility.
1t laughs at virtue and responsibility, smiles
oyer the woes of the fallen, homeless and
friendless. Scorns the dTunkardis child who
in tattered garments, begs for bread. 1t curses
the father, mother, sister, brother, who ask
for the release Of loved ones; bears to prema-
ture graves many of the brightest intellects
known 70 our state. 1t breaks the vows solem
ly made at HYmen's altar-makes a brute of
the husband, father, son, aud brother.
2. In authorizing traffic in ardent spirits
our State constitutes an agency that unceas-
ingly heaps contempt upon its organic laws.
Go into the temple where justice is sought and
we see the majesty of the law is insulted in
the hands Of, and, often by those who have sol
emily sworn TO render its execution efficient.
venture the assertion, there are but few courts
in Mississippi whose records do not show that
the law has been defed and trampled under
feet swift to she'd blood The records show
that all attempts to regulate the sale of
spurious yin9us liquors" are as futile as the
most reckless spree Of the wildnest imagina-
ton. With all the restrictions that have ever
been thrown around il, the traffic has increased
in power and usurpation. Until now the ques-
ton TO be answered by the citizenship of this
common wealth is, ''Shall whisky and It's allies
or morality and its allies rule this country 2"
| assume the responsibilities of the position
to which have been called with as unrelent-
ing determination as ever found birth in a
Caucasian bosom, that if our State persists
in bathing its soil, its homes, its statute
books in human blood, it shall do it over my
protest
The work assigned me is to organize
against the hydra-headed monster and its
bond-servants the virtue, honor and morality
of the State. Let there be no questionings as
to whether the movement will ultimate in sue
cess or not. 1t soiH ii shall 1t must succeed il
we but do our duty. The shout will scarcely
die away until we will catch up the glad re-
frain and echo back to redeemed Iowa Mis-
sissippis redemption. Fathers, mothers,
brothers, sisters, wives, sons and daughters
will remain on their knees in grateful tears to
thank God for the thrice happy release" and
rise up to bless 'the powers that be-"
Humanitarians, men, and women, white and
colored, in every community in the State, are
expected to organize to put down the taritfic in
human life: This done and victory will float
future. Then from hilltop and dell will rise
the sweetest song ever carrolled By human
lips Then it will be that humanity, now
shackled and in the most abject seryitude to
the most desperate tyrant ever known, will
have their. chains broken away and they viii
be restored to the loved ones clothed and in
their right mind, to sit around the hearth
stone, to thrill and be thrilled by social sweet
ness which once they knew and for which the
tender wife and children have been praying for
these many years.
Is this not consummation to be devoutly wish
ed and labored for? Who does not wish his or
her name recorded working for the
happiness and glory of now gloomy and
saddened homes. For this purpose we catch
up Iowa's handsomely answered question,
(which shall be protected by law, our homes
are the saloons ~ By the eternal sense of
Justice innate to American man and woman
hood, we will answer that questions no less
handsomely than did the champion State.
With eternal vigilance against the "matehless
evil" am yours truly,
J. II. GAMBRELL,
General Prohibition OrganiZer