The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1883-10-11

TO the Editor Of the Brookhaven Leader:

To the Editor Of the Brookhaven Leader:
AS a member of the Prohibition Confer
er &C on last Saturday, | wish TO say that
the amendment offered by Mr.. "Liberal'
in the last Democrat to your suggestion
that committee of citizens be appointed
to invite the Southern Land Excursionists
to stop off here and inspect the many adj
vantages offered by our favored section
was not so much as entertained. Nothing
so slanderous and full of misrepresentation
concerning the people of Brookhaven and
Lincoln county would be considered by
any sensible man for q moment, except it
be to refute it and condemn the slanderer.
This writer, in his vain endeavOr to cast
Odium upon the cause of Prohibition, de-
liberately misrepresents the sentiments of
the people of the entire county, and the
members of the Baptist Denomination in
particular, and in both cases he is utterly
without excuse, unless he plead Ignorance.
The people of Lincoln county are not a
set of intolerant bigots, who are not
willing for majorities to rule, and also to
accord to every man all of his civil and
political rights, whether he come from the
North or elsewhere. "LiberaP and n few
others are perhaps the only exceptions to
the rule. He virtually and very correctly
comedies that majority of the voters of
chafcs and evidently would like to reverse
the doctrine of Thomas Jefferson and have
q minority to rule the majority. That's
the kind of "Libcral"-ity he is painting for.
Neither are Baptsts religious fanatics and
zealots. 1t is history that Baptists were
among the first in America to advocate and
secure the right of religious liberty, and if
know anything about them they will be
among the last to deny to every man the
privilege of worshipping God according to
the dictates of his own conscience. 1t is
true that the Baptists, to their honor be it
said, in common with the best people of
every denomination in the county, are
taking an active part i'll the cause of Pro
hibitiOn, but there is nothing in this the
least incompatible with the highest type
of either civil or religious liberty.
The most of the Land EXcursiOnists
which reach here on the night of the 2lth
inst, will come from Iowa and Illinois,
and if met by committee and told or the
Prohibition sentiments of this county, as
suggested, they would doubtless reply
through their spokesman in substance as
follows: Gentlemen, and citizens of Lin
coin county, that which You tell MS regard
ing Prohibition is welcome news. Only a
little over year ago, the great State of
Iowa, the home of most of us, went for
Prohibition by an overwhelming majority
of her best citizens, and the temperance
sentiment is now gaining ground every
day in Illinois and every other Western
State and will ultimately meet with a
grand triumph throughout that section.
But we had not anticipated any such glad
surprise as this among the many other
splendid inducements of your glorious
Southland. We had been told that Missis-
sippians annually squander SIS, ZOO, 900
for whisky, and spend only a few
hundred thousands for the educa-
ton oftheir children. We are indeed
happy to hear that the cause of temper
ance has found its way among you. No
higher compliment could be spoken OF the
intelligence, virtue, peace and prosperity
of your people than that you are about to
Danish Alcohol forever from your midst.
A country of bar-roOms is country OF
drunkards with all the attending evils.
Yes, welcome, thrice welcome, this cheer
ing assurance you have given"
'Llberal," says in conclusion that the
string of Misrepresentation which he dc
tated to the committee would have the
s'desired etfect"-that is, cause the eXcur-
sionists to resume their trip and locate in
free, liberal and enlightened country.
Yes, he no doubt desires that all of just
such men as these excursionists will be,
should 90 elsewhere. He wishes to con
tinue the "free American privilege" OF sell
ling whisky behind a screen to make mon
ey, regardless of consequences to others,
notwithstanding majority of his fellow
citizens believe it detrimental to the inter
ests of the county, aud he knows if these
excursionists stop here they will only in
crease the majority.
Liberal, JR.