Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-02
THE LiQUos DEALERS.


peranee plank in the Democratic
platform, claiming that ii is super
tluous, as no one wishes for the re-
peal OF the four-mile law; the fol-
lowing from the Memphis Ava
lanche shows that this statement,
emenating from that party, is
little off color. Capt. Fussell has
also some documents on the same
subject which are mighty interest
in readin':"
MEMPHIS, TENN, June l3, 1882.
Dear Sr:-The Liquor Dealers
! Protective association of Shelby
county, with an increasing member
ship now bordering ON three hum
dred active members, beg leave to
/ call your attention 10 the object of
their organization, aud to ask your
cooperation in putting stop TO the
abuses practiced upon them under
the name OF the law Of the land.
For many years past u number of
busy bodies in this State, whose oc-
cupation was lost to them in other
States among people of experience,
have seen fit causelessly to open
their vials of abuse on ali merchants
who have vinous, spurious or malt
liquors as a part Of their stock in
trade, permitting no opportunity to
pass without injurlng SO for as lay
in their power their neighbOr, both
In his business and good name.
The pulpits and the halls of legis-
latiOn appear to have been utilized,
and at times have seemed only too
ready to obey the whims OF a few
political demagogues who were and
are utterly regardless OF the rights
Of their fellow citizens.
The general government of the
United States taxes the manufac-
ture and sale of liquor, but il has
never attempted to suppress either
its manufacture or itssale.
I'm those States Of the Union
which have had the most expert
ence, they have long since become
convinced that flour mile" laws,
like ours enacted in 1877 "local
option" laws, like those attempted
TO be enacted in 1879; the enact
ment of laws imposing unequal,
onerous and oppressive taxation
upon liquor dealers, as privileges,
such rs our law of 1891, and the
surrendering of charters, as was
done lately by thirty-seven towns
in this State, in order to bring the
merchant under the "four mile"
law, tend to demoralization rather
than to an increase and perpetual
alton of high moral standard for
obedience to law, and due observ-
ance and regard for the solemnity
Of oaths when rightly administered.
These laws, so oppressive and SO
unjust in their unequal provisions,
retard the progress OF our State and
should not longer be permitted
To remain upon our statute books,
and will not be If the outraged citi-
zens but exert themselves in pre-
senting a complaint of the wrongs
by which they are being injured,
and demanding, as law abiding
citizens, their rights under the law
OF the land and the constitution of
the United States, and that of our
own State of Tennessee, through
the medium of the press on the
hustings and through the ballot
box.
Sumptuary laws of every kind
have ever been distasteful to free
people. Their provisions tend main
ly to restricting the POOR in the use
Of the actual necessaries of life,
whilst to their nighbors, more fla
vored by fortune, these laws are
dead letters.
The Liquor Dealers Protective
association Is not n political Organi-
Zation in any partiZan sense; its
members do not propose and will
not question any ones right TO be-
long to either Of the political par
ties, but they do resolve, with them
selves, to support no man for Of
flee who will decline 10 give them
a positive assurance that, IL elected,
he will work earnestly and faith
fully for the repeal OF the obnoxious
and partial laws, of which the
members Of the associa tiOn feel
that they have justTeasOn To COM
plain. Further submission would
be but evidence of the most abject
slavery.
Already the good effects of their
organization are to be seen in the
class of citizens chosen as delegates,
from this Taxing District, TO the
gubernatorial convention, tO assem-
BILE at Nashville on the 2pth inst,
very many of whom will insist that
the candidate nOminatSi for gov
ernOr shall favor repeal Of these
Objectionable laws.
Resolutions and platforms arc A..
generally all that are needed To sat
isfy the politician, but for mer-
chants, oppressed, as we have been,
by partial and discriminating legis-
lation, something more satisfactory
and assuring will be required.
Cranks and phariscts shall no
longer be permitted To interfere
with good citizens in the exercise of
their rights, or in the pursuit OF
legitimate business.
1t is to this end that we invite
your cooperation in the election OF
honest, capable and tair-mlnded
men to every Office within the gift
of the people throughout the State.
Issued in this circular form by
order Of the execu i've committee.
l.. Podesta, @. Baum,
Peter Mentgcs, u. j. Kelly,
Jas. Bachman, Pat Colligan,
=. III. Haynes. -. III. Carbcry,
j. NJ. Rourke, w IL. Irwin,
NJ. J. Kelly, VIM. Dean,
Geo. Herbers, J. NJ. Scmmes,
Chas. Gallina, John Miller,
NJ. III. Reilly, John Il. Walsh.
A. NACCARO, President
How well these orders were
obeyed by the "trade" has become
a matter ~ history, for II Is asserted
thAt over 800 Of the delegates 90 the
June convention were men en-
gagged in tile liquor business, and
moi one OF theAf ."bolted." IL IL
also asserted that tht liquor men of
Nashville ratiat1hthe efnOtmination
of Bate on tho SatuiHHy' f0lloAViHg
the convention IT ~ also ~ hlet
that tho Bate party in OuT city ia9%
used az their Headquarters Johnny
Rourke's saI0on, lOn Main street,
and every decent Democrat has
suffered Tie Modification OF know
ing that II lie wished 70 consult tire
leaders OF Ills party, he must force
his way through a coarse, brutal
and drunken .throng Of ward buDi-
mers. ''
A DVfchman's Temperance Lecture
"I shall tell how il vas. / drunk
mine lager day py day. Den but
mine hand on mine head and dere
Z. n T.. -