Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-08-05
PLANK vs.. WHISKY PLANK.

PLANK VS.. WHISKY PLANK.
EDIToR. CHRONICLE THE read
justers are very much disturbed
over the temperance plank in the
democratic platform, saying "it
will do no good" cit means moth
Ing" "only put there to catch
votes" and many other equally as
positive and false assertions; all,
gentlemen, it does mean something
and we'll do you know it, else why
this thusness (? Are you so full of
fight that you must needs pitch into
a man of straw? The Maury DEM
ocrat, Franklin Review and Jour
nal and a few other sheets of the
same stripe, are terribly exercised
over the matter, and don't want
the majority of temperance men in
the State held responsible for the
action of the Temperance Conven-
ton; just retain your linen gentle
men, the temperance men are am
ply able to take care of themselves,
sufficiently intelligent to know ex-
actly what they are doing, loyal
enough to their cause to do all they
can for its friends, and willing to
make many sacrifices if necessary
to defeat its enemies; and you will
find that they are in dead, hard
earnest in this matter and will
give the State Credit ticket hearty
support, Notwithstanding the slurs
and inuendoes about "goody good
boys" "Sunday-school children"
"church sisters" as INDUCED in by
some of the half-breed papers, for
they would not be true to them
selves if they did otherwise.
Now let us see what this temper
ance plank means. 1t means the
sustenance of law restricting the
sale of liquor in the vicinity of
schools, a law which has been tried
and found of immense benefit in
protecting the youth of the State
from the evil influences of the liq-
uor traffic, and is as much a part OF
the platform as the State debt
plank or any other plank. Now
let us see how it got into the plat
form, a large number Of the citizens
of Tennessee are III full sympathy
with the great temperance move
ment which is making itself felt all
over the land, these citizens are
among the best in the State, and
knowing their strength have de-
munded that they shall have recog-
milton and that their wishes and
interests shall no longer be ignored.
To that end convention of all
persons i'll sympathy with the tenn
perance cause was held in Nash
vile i'll April; at this convention Il
committee was appointed to make
OVerturcs looking to alliance with
some political party. This COM
mittec in pursuance to its instruc-
tions did present its claims to the
different political parties in their
conventions assembled, so there can
be no doubt as to how the parties
stand. Well, the republican con-
ventiOn paid no attention to their
request, did not treat them even
politely; next the socalled demo-
cratic convention of June the Goth,
not only refused to give them any
encouragement but went in a pile
into tho arms OF their enemies, the
whisky ring; finally the State
Credit democrats met in cOnven-
ton, July 18th, and the committee
still in discharge of its duty, pre-
sentcd their claims; this conven-
ton recognizing the eminent re-
spectability of the temperance
element, as well as its strength and
the fairness and justice of its de-
mands, gave them a hearty well
come and recognition in the
platform, and this is what is called
the temperance plank. The State
Credit party did more in rccogni-
ton OF the temperance element,
they chose man AS standard bearer
from the temperance ranks, q man
who had labOrcd and worked for
the cause for years. On the Dth Of
July there met in Nashville a con-
ventiOn composed Of delegates from
the Prohibition Reform party and
the different temperance Organiza-
tons of the State, these gentlemen
were some of them democrats, State
Credit and Low-taX, some were re-
publicans, others greenbackers and
others still straight out prohibition
lists. This convention was called
for the aVowed purpose of putting a
temperance candidate for Governor
in the field after full and free dis
cussion of the matter and an exact
knowledge of the attitude of the
different political parties on the
temperance question, they resolved
that they would not put in nomina-
ton any candidate for Governor,
and while they ignored the State
debt question, (they were not there
to discuss that,) they heartily en-
dorsed the action of the State Credit
democrats in advocating and sup.
porting the present prohibitory law
of the State and also congratulated |
them on the nomination of one who |
has proven himself such an able |
advocate of the Temperance cause,
and in conclusion urged the temper
ance people of the State to support |
no party or candidate who does not
favor their interest and to vote for
none except openly avowed pro-
AS TO the charge of Catching
votes" this certainly comes with
very bad grace from SGT of men
who in open convention after WHIP