Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-03-22
WAR ON WHISKY.
Remarkable Spread Of the Temperance
Movement in GeOrgia-nany COun.
ties Wheeling Into Line.
The Result Of the Work Inaugurated by
Mr.. Flournoy Thirty Years Ago
Singular Features.

The Atlanta (Ga correspondent OF the
Louisville Couri e. Journal in a letter TO that
paper concerning the progress OF the temper
snce movems ut IN Georgia, ssys:
One OF the strsngest fTesks OF sentiment
in Georgia is the sprt ad OF the local OPP
lion, or Temperance movement. Some thlr-
~ wears ago a prominent Georgia politl-
eIan-a Mr.. Flournoy-becsme interested
10 the Temperance work. He pushed his
Canvass with vigor, held enthusiastic meet
ings, and made such a noise that many
ambitious politicians 10 embryo attached
themselves to his cause, only TO meet
most iguominious defeat at the polls, after
which Mr.. Flournoy and his friends were
as dead as one OF the lost arts. So
sweeping was the defeat that not a man
who was known 10 have sympsthizsd with
the movement was ever permitted TO reach
Office again.
AT a Temperance mass-meetiDg in Gen.
Egans's church, in this city, last winter, at
which the Hon. W. E Dodge, of New York,
was the principal speaker, the speech of well
come to The distinguished moral reformer
was made by Judge George n. Lester, the
one-armed ex Confederate, who made such q
brilliant canvsss against Mr.. w. II. FELTON,
in his second race for Congress. In that
speech Judge Lester recalled the experience
of Mr.. Flournoy thirty years ago as we'll ss
the fact that all who take part in it were ever
after politically dead. THAT was too bad"
il 4culated Mr.. Dodge. "But now" immedi-
ately responded Judge Lester, "the man who
does not announce himself in favor OF tenn
perance legislation is politically dead"
THAT is the silver lining" responded Mr..
Dodge. the golden, rsIber," said Judge
Lester, "snd if you live five years longer you
will see Georgia added 10 the list OF prohibit
tion States"
The distinguished guest of that evening 10
now dead, but it looks as if the prophecy of
Judge Lester might be realized sooner than
he anticipated. Several years ago the Leg
islature was flooded with resolutions pro-
hibitipg the sale Of liquor vii hin certain dis
tsnces of educational institutions. This
made nucleus for temperance sentiment.
A little later one or two counties asked the
privilege of vote o the temperance ques-
lion, which was granted without hesitation,
| and they were added TO the temperance COL
umu. Then a law was passed authorizing
the ordinaries OF the counties, upon the petit
| lion of a certain number Of Inhabitants, 10
| order vote in militia districts upon the
issue OF wet or dry. Later still erdin aries
were authorized TO use their discretion as 10
whether they should grant licenses at all.
| Uoder the operation of this law, temperance
candidates for ordinary were elected in forty
| auO mus was cetaD-
| lIshsd over one-third Of the State before the
| liquor men awoke 10 the fact that such
| campaign was in progress.
| The last Legislature, acting under the
| pressure from these iCriy counties, and IRON
| the innumerable temperance militia districts
| throughout the State, allowing every county,
| upon petition OF a certain number of inhsb-
itsnls, 10 have a vote on the question of pro-
hibition. II the result was for prohibition,
| the governor wss at once to proclaim the
exclusion of liquors from its limits for two
| years, whsn new vote would have TO be
taken, and go on to the end. Under this
law q canvass is now in progress in a number
OF counties, with every evidence that John
| Bsrleycorn will have TO seek new fields
A strange part Of the campaign is that the
| counties which are adopting the prohibition
| platform are those from which ore would
least expect it. Thus Emanuel, Efhnghsm,
Deksib and other quiet and orderly COM
| munties are taking no part in the struggle.
Spa!ding county, where more murders have
been COMM ted during and since the war
Than in any other half dozen, and where
! drinking is universal, has joined the tenn
perance column. Clayton county has long
| been notorious as 4 resort of desperadots
| The boys OF the town of Jonesboro asked no
better fund than to step on the cost-fail of q
stranger; in fact, it beat OpeIika in its
palmiest days. List week this county voted
for prohibition by over six TO one. Pauld-
ing county voted into line last Thursday,
and a more drunken county than Paulding
! there is not in Georgia.
| In all these counties the result was not at
tanned by the aid Of temperance societies.
| In fact temperance societies would have de-
f-at.d themselves. The result was achieved
by the drinkers themselves. They voted for
prohibition in a body. They recognized the
fact that liquor was their ruin; tn its pres
ence was a tenn alton, and that if the temp
tation was removed they themselves would
become better men. Thus they went to the
ballot, and thus the temperance victory was
won.
Ia less Than two years there will not be q
drop of liquor sold in Georgia outside OF The
/ larua mica