The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1882-09-27
Gen. Bate, Democracy and
the temperance
Question.

friend suggesting that he make answes
to certain questions propounded by what
is called the /" Prohibition Alliance,
Gen Bate has written candid and
manly letter (Which we give in another
column) declining to do so. He prop
erly takes the position that no party Oh
faction in the State presenting a candi
date for Governor has made declara
ton on the prohibition issue, though
the alliance was in existence when the
several platforms were put forth, ano
that he does not regard it the province
of nominated candidate to involve his
party in regard to any question on
which it has not delivered itself. He
distinctly declares that the four-mile
lava Measure totally different from
prohibitory legislation-is law whose
repeal no party, or class of citizens, has
demanded, and that as Governor he
would not recommend its repeal. He
proclaims himself friend of the tenn
perance cause, and justly characterizes
the clamor commenced at the Boilers
Convention Of July II in regard to the
four-mile law repeal as misleading and
deceptive, and intended to divert votes
from him and his party for purpose
wholly foreign to any sincere zeal for
that law or other Temperance move
ments. The whole letter is replete with
sound and just views as to the duties of
candidate, and is in singing contrast
with the course of the Bolter candidate
and the alacrity with which, on his own
responsibility, he exceeded the position
taken by his faction on the liquor issue,
and in his anxiety TO exc out the mis-
cradle modicum of votes he viii receive,
announced himself in favor of prohibi-
ton. er
The Nashville Banner, which, in its
desperation over the dissolution OF the
bolt, seems on the verge of initiating
this folly of Mr.. Russell, of course criti-
cizes Gen. Bates letter, but it gnaws a
Gle. 1t admits the position that the
candidate is but the representative of
his party Oh any question, and in that
it comedies all. The Banner knows the
four-mile law was passed by Demo
cratic Legislature that two Democrat
ic Legislatures have sat, and two Dem
ocratic Conventions have come and
gone, and no whisper of repeal or modi-
fication of the four-miIe law was made
by either the legislative or political
bodies. 1t cannot point to a single
Legislative convention which has pro-
posed its repeal, or single Democratic
candidate for the Legislature who seeks
votes on the question Of its repeal. 1t
knows there is .not Democratic Jour
nal in the State which has advocated the
molestation of the law, and it knows
that large number Of the most able
and influential Of them have announced
themselves staunchly in its favor. 1t
knows, finally, there is no popular SEN
timent in any quarter of the State hos
tile to the four-nIle law, and that there
is no more danger of its repeal than
there is Of the statutes against murder:
arson, or rape. That worthy and res
pectable newspaper is doing itself injus-
tice in its self-imposed role as the We
hicle of this four-mile law nonsense, and
when it RECEIVERS its equilibrium will be
ashamed of the exhibition it has made
on this subject. That the four-mile law
is Democratic measure, is as certain as
that, in this canvass. the Banner has
not been Democratic newspaper.
The Banner objects that the liquor
dealers are proposing to support Gen.
Bate and the Democratic party. we
have no reason to suppose that they
are, irrespective of party, and the
Banner gives none except its own asser-
ton. If they should do so, it will not
be because they have received pledges
from either Gen. Bate or a Democratic
Convention in regard to the four-mile
law. That interest-a constitutional
and legitimate occupation employing a
vast emphasizes doubtless a rising an
tagonistic movement in the agitation for
the prohibition of the manufacture and
sale of the commodity in which they
deal, and it naturally casts its eye to-
wards the. Democratic party. If the
Banner has not abnegated all the De-
mocracy it ever knew, or its gifted ed
itor mas ever taught, it very well under
stands why any class of citizens whose
rights of property, freedom of opinion,
or liberty of action is assailed should
look to that party which is the cham
pion and upholder of all these invalua-
BILE privileges. 1t is read and known Of
all men that Democracy is opposed to