Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1882-09-02
THE FOUR MILE PLANK.


his speech at Bristol last Monday,
spoke in the following eloquent
language of the flour mile law
and temperance plank in the Dem
ocratic platform
And now we approach the next
question that TenneSSeaas are rising
to solve and which to-day is of yaster
Importance to our homes and fire.
sides, our peace and prosperity, than
the pitifui sum for which the June
platform proposes to sacrifice the
plighed faith and sacred honor of
the State that gave us birth.
1t has thrown itself into the polit-
! zeal arena, shakes its briStling name,
and with its hellish fire proposes to
| burn out the sacred heart of the bal
/ lot box. By its own demand this
issue is made. The gigantic strides
of this evil power, this enemy of
the youth of the land enemy of all
that's sacred and of all that morals,
religion, education and virtue mean,
leads to the conclusion that ere long,
unless arrested in its mad career, an
eager, sacrilegious hand will be put
forth to throttle all that humanity,
civilization aud religion hold dear.
The liquor dealer having cast this
question into politics, having thrown
down the gauntlet, we cheerfully
accept the challenge in behalf of the
common schools and the youth of
the land, and the noble women who
have SO patiently awaited and ear
nestly prayed for the preservation
of the laws which stand as towers of
strength against the greatest enemy
of society to-day.
Here it was clearly shown that
an organization, the Liquor Dealers
Association, exists, which has ire
solved to work harmoniously and
the election of all candidates" who
oppose them, and will "act only
with those men and the party who
advocate the principles of the asso-
ciation.") The speaker read a let
ter by the Liquor Dealers Associa-
tion to the 'trade" in the city of
Memphis, in which it was shown
that it had been resolved by the as
citation "to support no man for Office
who will decline to give them pos
tive assurance that, if elected, he
will work earnestly and faithfully
for the repeal of the obnoxious laws
OF which the member feel that they
have right to complain" And
that said association in said letter
further said: Already the good
effects Of the organization are to be
seen in the class of citizens chosen"
Mr.. RUSSELL continued about as fol-
lows: So we find the battle ground
clearly defined. The issues are be-
fore us and must be met.
The bold, the true and upright |
Tennessean dares to enter the field |
knowing that his cause is just. TITS |
glorious to see the old State to-day |
as she aWakeS to the new morn and |
shakes back into the night from |
which she is emerging the old shell |
of the dead past with all its preju-
dlces and steps forth towards a liV- |
ing future, planting in the front the
banner of progress. The smoke of |
battle has dritted away and a "blue
sky'' bids advance.
The thunder of artillery no longer
reverberates along our mountain
sides and through our valleys. !
Garments dyed in blood have
passed away" and no breathing
upon the dry bones of the past can
produce a shaking. This is the |
hour for Tennessee. Having been |
lured by false designs, lured on by
some full of deceit and dragged by
temptation to the very verge of
wrong and cowardice, let us with
dauntless courage rise in full
strength of redeeming manhood.
Young men, the pride and hope of
the land, to you we make an ear
nest appeal to come forth with that
which is higher than phys
ical courage; courage lOftier and
more to be admired than that
which carries man to the field of
battle; that courage which lifts a
man to u higher and nObler plane,
in which ga good name is rather to
be chosen than great riches" We
need men whom popular clamOr
and denunciatiOn of the depraVed
cannot move. Young men, noble
build to-day, for your
selves, a monument upon whose
base future generations may delight
to stand and pronounce blessings
upon the brave and true. "Be just
and fear not"