Claiborne guardian. [volume] (Homer, La.) 1877-188?, 1882-09-13
J. A. PARKER,
hartman.

Chairman.
Ynnr committee TO whom has been re-
frrrcd matters relating Ia the temperance
interests within the bounds Of the Dis
trict. have carefully collected all the
available facts in regard to il. aud while
they find many things TO deplore, there
are many which are, to all rejecting minds,
n source of rejoicing.
Az citizens Of the State of Louisiana.
and n. representatives. Of an organization
embracing Within its pale population Of
more than fifteen thousand souls, and
having for its object the intellectual ad.
vanccment of our fellow citizens, the sup
PRECISION of vice, aud the amelioratiou Of
The woes of men. we are unwilling to pass
over in silence the action Of our late lrgs-
latorso on the subject of temperance. That
honorable body WINS nnmrronsiy petitinncd
not 20 amend the Constitution of the
State so rs to prevent the Manufacture
and sale Of ardent spirits. but simply to
prevent the people TO vote on the suhirct,
which it declined to do-not ignoring the
right "f petition, hut Designating the
wishes of constituent petitioners.
II il not within our province. nor any
part Of our impose 10 direct the legislation
uf the State hut. in ia much as We are
charged by the authority of Heaven to
Il
sincerely beg our people, every where nth
IN the Stat, To mark those legislators who
turned deaf ear, or opposing hand, to
our lawfully expressed wishes; and see to
il that they bc never returned 10 the places
of trust and au,hurlty which they have
prostitutrd to the clainor of the worst
elements of society.
OR people do nor rad temperance litera-
iurc and are sadly in need OF Information
on that subject. The press ~ the most
effective means for moulding public srntl-
mvut, and while this is II tit subject for
pulpit di-cu>sion the efforts of the pulpit
may be- very much rtl"ctnatrd 10y the CON.
current Influence of tue various publlca-
tons having for their object the direction
and adv .,ncrmrni of temperance issues.
We thrrcfutc r,comrucud that nut peo-
pie encourage the circulation of the "Na-
tlonal Llbrratur, II Temperance organ pub
ll-hcd at Chicago, III, (wrckly) at 81 per
aunam. This !, - laISc eight page paper,
sfi"rding lr'g,' supply ot family reading.
4" sides the general news.
With rrfrrrur. to the Local Option laws
OF the State, yonr committee are fully
a>>urcd-irum cNpctlrncc-uf their inter
ln.drquacy TO the ends proposed. II for
no Other cause, the concurrent authority
III town OH .Ials with the Police jurIrs,
rrndcrs the present law inefficient; be-
cuu,e, concurrent authority, thirty 81
forty voters III an incorporated town, may
force the liquor traffic on two or three
hundred voters against their wishes aud
III opposition to their united vote. II the
pr, sent laws were 80 changed H. To leave
the matter wholly in the hands of the
Police Jurics, the question of the liquor
traffic would, after few years. come be-
fore the people At the ballot-box in the
election Of those officials.
Although We would drplore any public
sentiment which would make a profession
of religion i qualification for office, We do.
nevertheless, earnestly recommend that
in the future unr people refrain from voting
for any r,I>"n tot olicr-Siatc OF rarochial
who j. not known TO lie III favor Of re-
fnrm IN the manufacture aud sale Of ardent
liquors.
In conclusion, your committee would
recommend a mere rigid administration
of discipline in cases of drunkenness be-
lirving We can never nd the State of the
evil TIL We have cleaned it out of the
Church. We recommend. Furthermore.
that all our pastors read, At the earliest
in every congregation, para
graph 81, chapter 5, page l23 of our Dis
cipiine. ed. irS2.
All of which is respectfully Submitted.
). A. PARKER,
GEORGE ID ALEXANDER,
T }. MARTIN,
J II MAYS,
Il. VI. CROWSON.
". w. PATTERSON,