The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-09-23
Gen. Bate on Prohibition.


Union City Anchor.
The following private letter from
Gen. w. b. Bate TO DR.. A. p. Water
field, Of this place, fully explains his
position on the question of prohibition
and temperance involved in the pres
ent canvass and should silence in
shame those who charge that he is
partial to the whisky interest:
NASHVILLE, Tenn, Aug. Is, 1882.
DR.. A. P. Waterfed,
My DEAR SIR;-I fully appreciate
your motives iii urging me to make
certain pledges asked for by the pros
hibition alliance. l had hoped tnat
my speech at Union City on the 9th
of July was satisfactory to you and
thoseyou represent. There is no need,
Ia m certain, for me to assure yon that
| am in no sense the candidate Of
the whisky men," Gas your letter stat
ed had been alleged) or Of any other
peculiar interest whatever. My enun>
citation was clear and emphatic in
said Union City speech in that regard;
as it also was that | would not recon.
mend the repeal of the four-mile law.
| know | am the friend of the cause
of temperance, and have no patience
with drunkenness. Yet | cannot re-
cognize the right of an assembly of
gentlemen, however upright and in
telligent, to demand from a nominate.
ed party candidate the virtual inser-
ton of any peculiar doctrines into a
party platform-not deemed eces,
sary by the party nominating him
nor do | deem it proper course to
make personal promises and pledges
to individuals, even though l agreed
with them.
do not desire to indulge in person,
al criticism Of tn, action Of my Compel
itors, but will only call attention to
the fact that the doctrine Of prohibits
ton is not Incorporated into any COM
INITIAL OF a party, while at the same
time allowing the candidate to pledge
or promise all that is necessary to
secure votes (and yet be without pow.
er to accomplish anything, for no man
can do so unless his party be with
him) does not commend itself to my
sense OF fair dealing with the people.
The declaration Of the convention,
July 18th, that they were opposed to
the repeal of the four mile law, which
had never been attacked, (and the re.
peal of which shall not reccommend)
means nothing, in my opinion, save
and attempt to mislead and deceive.
Entertaining these views, | do not
feel that it is necessary or proper that
| should make personal pledges as to
my official action in regard thereto,
nor can | believe any failure to do so
can be constructed into personal
discourtesy to any gentlemen who re-
quest 1t. 1 fully appreciate, howev yer.
their integrity and purity Of mo tivea.
1t is difficult to persuade a devoted
and faithful Democrat, when he sees
the great struggle going on in his par.
ty for harmony and unity of action,
and the sacrifice of individual opinion
made by many of our best men to ac-
eomplish it in order to save the State
from Republican rule, that his broth.
er Democrat, with like good faith
and loyalty, will decline to vote for
the nominee on account ola side issue
not recognized by the platform.
l have been taught that it is a car
dinal poiat in democratic doctrine
that majOrities should rule. An over
whelming majority in our convention
endorsed our platform, which must
be instruction for their candidate
and do not feel that anyone has the
right to add TO or take from, or that
its nominated candidate should give
out opinions as an individual affecting
the success of the party, in regard tc
which the platform is silent.
Hoping this will be satisfactory tc
you and those you represent, | re,
main most respectfully, your friend