Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-10-07
A Grave Issue.
Nashville Hammer.


There are two important facts in
the liquor issue pending in Tennes-
see. The first of these is the politi-
cal fact derived from the two forms
In which that issue presents itself
These are the desire and Intention
Of the liquor dealers 10 repeal or
modify what il known as the four
mile law, and their determination
to repeal the law of 1851, imposing
upon wholesale and retail dealers a
tax which they claim is excessive
and unjust. II these laws are I'M
just or oppressive or contrary to
public morals, they should be re-
pealed, and organization for that
purpose is right and proper. If
otherwise, then organization be-
comes contrary to public morals
and sound policy, dictated by spec
ial interest and is what is properly
denominated a ring. The great
moral fact which Is derived from
the menace to these two acts is, that
an interest is at work to repeal or
modify laws, regulative of the
liquor traffic in the interest of pub
lie morals and for wise ends.
The second fact is of no less inn
portance and may even appear of
more importance to many who
have no patience with any kind or
form ofiiquor laws, and yet will not
lightly view such matter as a ring
hanging itself about the neck of a
political party. This fact depends
upon the character and purpose of
the organization, exposed in the
Nashville and Memphis circulars of
the liquor dealers. If that purpose
is relief from unjust, unwiSe and
oppressive legislation ii Is proper
and society is equally with them
interested in its undOing. We
think ii hardly necessary TO argue
that the four mile law is wise and
practical and in no way unjust in
its broadest scope, including its APP
plication To the log school-hOuse of
the poor as well rs to the college
and university. Nor do we think
it any more necessary to argue the
wisdom of a taxing law which,
while increasing the tax on liquor
dealers by 100000, lays this tax
upon a pure luxury and at the same
time furnishes a wise regulation of
the traffic by diminishing the cen
tres OF tIppling and concentrating
the business in hands which will be
responsible for law and order.
Then organization for the purpose
of repeating or modifying either of
these laws must be founded solely
upon the interest of the business and
not upon the good ofsOciety. Much
assertion has been INDUCED for the
last ten years about railway rings
and bondholders' rings, based on no
proOfand backed by no facts. State
Credit men have been persistently
charged with being controlled by
such rings, although the very asser-
ton, considering the character of
most of the men, was false on its
face. The public is, however, very
justly sensitive upon the subject of
rings. Here is Il case where their
own cir, ulars prove the existence of
a ring.
OF course the liquor men insist
that their organization cannot be
called IL ring because its object is
relief from oppression. The ques-
ton is one of fact. Any. Democrat
who agrees with them that il is a
case of oppression which ought to
be remedied will consistently hold
that their organization is not ring.
But what say Democrats who hold
it otherwise Are they willing to
have Democracy directed by spe-
cial interest and its objects made
the care of Democracy? Here are
then two facts; the existence of a
determined effort to repeal or mod
ify the four mile law-the first not
squarely denied and the second not
denied at all-and the determine
ton to repeal the tax laws of 1881,
to which no candidate on the Read
juster side has yet alluded the Sec
Ond fact is the existence of an organ
lied ring, exhibited, with its pur-
poses, in two circulars and fastened
about the neck of the Readjuster
wing of Democracy, as is proved by
its Circulars and the responsive
fifth section of the June 10th plat
fO IN.