Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-05
Ffber,dge on Prohibition.

The following letter was read from
Hon. Emerson Etheridge before
the Prohibition Conventions at Nash
vile:
DRESDEN, July 10, ISIS. 4.
Lloyd, j. w. We5cott, D. Taylor
and others-Gentlemen: As can
not go with you 10 Nashville, to-
night, and cannot see all (I mean
all the delegates from the county,
/ venture To make to you the fUf-
lowing suggestions, knowing you
will give them such consideration
as they intrinsically merit:
Unless Mr.. Russell, now IA candi-
date for Governor, is willing 10 adj
nit and defend the logical conclu-
sions OF the platform upon which
he proposes to stand, | think tile
Prohibition Convention which
meets tomorrow, should hesitate
long and deliberate well before max
ing another nomination for Govern
or.
He is SO generally admitted to be
truthful, honorable, intelligent and
brave, that | confidently assume he
will boldly proclaim all his con-
victions upon the subject Of prohi-
biti0n; and as he, and the conven-
ton which nominated him, have
expressed themselves intiexibly
opposed to the repeal of the -four
mile law" because of its beneficial
influences, | have no doubt what
ever he is willing, if elected Gov
ernor, TO use all legitimate means,
personal and official to place the State
under the protection of law equal
ly potential in exclunding the liquor
traffic and closing the saloons. lie
cannot do otherwise and maintain
his self-respect. No sensible man
will avow himself as willing TO
inhibit the sale of whisky within
four miles of an Incorporated acade-
my and refuse the same or similar
protection to the humble school
house, which is the sole educational
resort OF tbs poor. Nor can he be
willing to protect these academies
and school houses situated in the
country from the degrading intiu-
ences and disgusting examples of
the dramseller and his drunken
patrons, and at the same time avoW
himself as ready TO see the small
villages, towns and cities of the
State continue to be cursed by this
leviathan of evils solely because
they are incorporated. Mr.. RUSSELL
will not, cannot do any such thing.
He who aVOWs himself as in favor
of the so-called "four-mile law" is
already a declared Prohibitionist.
II Il
solely and Understandings has
'enlisted for the war !" he has cut
down the bridge behind him, and
henceforth he need hope nothing
but complete triumph or a total
overthrow. a cause so just, right
and necessary as prohibition, total
prohibition, admits of no temporiz-
ing or compromise; and all those
who may enlist in its service i'm
Tennessee, during 1882, doubt not
have enrolled their names and
Joined the ranks to stay. Some
causes are too sacred for apOstacy,
and prohibition is one of them. |
am therefore, in favor of giving Mr..
Russell fair trial. | believe he
will shoulder the responsibility like
the man his friends represent him
to be. lie cannot do otherwise.
And when he shall have avowed
his true connection upon the liquor
traffic, and they prove to be such
as we have right to expect, then
the army OF prohibition will, for
the first time, be organized in Ten
nessee; and it will stay. More
than all these, it will triumph. The
victory will be overwhelming and
unless the schoolmasters and Chris
tiAn ministers become extinct, or
the art of printing be lost, the bles-
sing of our triumph will endure for
ever. Very truly yours,
EN-. ETHERIpGE.