The patron of husbandry. (Columbus, Miss.) 1875-1883, 1882-06-10
The War ON whiskey i'm Georgia.

Forty years ago there were absolutely
no advocates of prohibitory legislation,
and liquor saloons were in full blast all
over this State.
Now, AZ counties, besides the neighbor-
hoods of many churches and schoolhou-
ses, embracing in all more than one third
of the area of Georgia, are freed from the
saloon curse. The noble women of the
Christian Temperance Union, aided by
other temperance organizations and our
ministers, in a few weeks secured petition
over thousand feet long, asking a Gen
eral Assembly of Georgia for appropriate
temperance legislation. A convention
composed of about 200 delegates from the
different parts of the State, embracing
many able men, assembled at the State
capital on the 4th day of July, on few
days. call. This was a temperance con-
vention in truth-.ree alike from all intern
perate enthusiasm, yet earnest and harmo-
NOUS in the advocacy of all necessary and
practical reform.
The temperance bill-a local option bill
with the position of the parties reversed
passed the Senate by a majority of all the
Senators elected, and passed the House by
a large majority of the members present,
but failed for want of the Constitutional
majority of all the members elected. The
judiciary of the State and the ministers of
our churches are almost without excep-
ton right on this question. The poor
drunkard in appealing for help, and the
noble women with prayers and tears are
begging the law making powersto remove
these gilded saloons that stand like gate
ways to perdition to tempt their children
to disgrace and crime in this life, and ever
lasting death beyond the portals of the
tomb.
Bishop Beckwith, in his grand sermon
on this subject, delivered Ev invitation in
the Hall of the House of Representatives
during the last session of the legislature,
in substance said: Probably the present
race of drunkards, with but few excep-
tons, are beyoud the reach of reformation.
Like glaring torches flashing through the
night. they will soon go out in darkness,
and the fires of intoxication become ex-
hausted for want of fuel-if we can only
save the children"
How a Christian parent can utter that
beautiful prayer, left by the Saviour OF the
world as a model petition-for all man
kind-and entreat Almighty God "te lead
us not into temptation, but deliver us from
evil and rise from his knees and rent his
property for bar-rooms, and cast his vote
and influence in favor of licensing saloons
to tempt his own and his neighbours chill
dren to everlasting ruin is beyond com
prehensior.
The State Temperance Executive Com
mite, of which Judge John w. II. Under
wood is chairman, has issued the fololw-
ing address to the people of Georgia:
While there exists among temperance
people a difference of opinion
~,
do away entirely with the evils of in
temperance in Georgia, yet all good peo-
pie agree that dram shops are unmitiga-
ted evils. Hence we appeal to the people
of Georgia of all aces, creeds and politics,
to unite with us in an earnest and de-
ternined effort to PreOenf tie licensing
of these foundations TO Drunkenness and
Crime,
We appeal to ali good citizens, especi-
ally to the Christian people, of Georgia, to
close up these salons which do no good,
but on the contrary are Factories for tie
Mann actUye of DrHnkatds.
Bishop Beckwith, of Georgia, recently
said that "the fires of intoXication would
soon become exhausted for want of fuel,
if we could only SAVE THE Chill
DREN."
LET US ABOLISH THESE DRAM SHOPS
and save the children of Georgia from the
greatest temptation to evil they have to
encounter in this world.
Gambling saloons are not licensed by
Jaw, drinking saloons ought not to be.
| If they are carried on, let it be in violation
| of
| LAW, NOT WITH LEGAL SANCTION.
In localities where these saloons can
not be closed up, let us advocate the enact
ment of laws requiring dram shops to be
| located on public thoroughfares; to have
no back or side entrance, and NO
SCREEN, but glass doors, and only twenty
feet deep and on level with the ground, and
to close up at shutdown. Then any one
passing can see whether or not liquor is
being sold to boys in violation of law.
We urge upon friends of this reform to
organize in every county for the work
appoint county executive committees and
report to the Secretary of this committee,
| Atlanta, Georgia.
While it is unnecessary to form a separ-
ate political party, to secure this great
moral reform, we think this course best
adapted to secure united and harmonious
| action throughout the State.