The Morristown gazette. [volume] (Morristown, Tenn.) 1867-1920, 1883-07-11

- y
custom OF TaTsy leaders mall Poittieaall
parties, rs ESsdia 1epnessee as in most
other states, to treat lightly-to pass
with a sneer-thc idea that the tenn
parance question would ever eject
elections
4 few F.eu are still cbfuse enough
70 think thu srme Wv ver.
II has come 70 be realized, however,
that the control or .suppression OF the
whisky trsfic + a nstter that pro-
foundIy agitates, aud has taken per-
manent hold OF the public mind
While IL cannot be said that i'm Ten
nessee the question has assumed par
tfzan shane, IL is nevertheless true,
that, state Geb. alone excepted, it has
constituted for Few years past one Of
the great political questions in the
State.
Within the recollectioR Of the mid
die aged voter. whisky was an article
OF manufacture and Commerce, rs free
from legal restrictions as coffee and
sugar, and an article Of much more
universal eonsuPpions than either Of
these
It's very different to-day, even in
Tennessee. Now, no man in any part
of the safe San engage ia the trsfiic
till he bas frst paid 4 license feeequal
TO three hu -drcd Collars per annum.
Having paid this license fee, The tip
pier cannot, at his peril, sell TO stu
dents Of sRyssge attending school, nor
10 minors, whether students or not,
without written permission from par
euts or guardians, nor within four
miles OF any Unsupported Institution
Of learning except within an ineoI-
p1rated town or city, nor oH election
days. nor 70 habitual drunkards If the
wife see fit toprsyAf5t Ny-notice.
In short, the laws as they stand in
Tennessee to-day are tantamount &C
total prohibition in more than half the
counties, and in perhaps fOur-fifths Of
the territory Of the State.
Chattanooga snd Knoxville out o.
the way, and there are not ten square
miles OF territory in all East Tennes
see in which the tipPler can lawfully
follow his avocafion. -
So is, everto greater extent or
an average. all over tine United States
So that while IL is true that the TEN
perance question has not often assum
ell partizan shape, it i also true tha
II is the most vital political question
nov, aud for years past, agitating tn
public mind.WHeEGk
IL has happeReds that : thoughtfu
men OF all parties have come to lool
upon the traffic as an nnmitigated EVIL
and have determined TO stamp Il out
Wisely, Il has been generally deter
mined to attenp t no great aRd snddei
revolution, but to gradually but con
startly limit, restrict, throw burden
Of taxation Jpeps ard fducate pnbli
sentiment assakhAf tlte trRiliC tilFit die
Atti-sr thought 70 would seem tina
this slow revolution is proceeding yer,
slowly IN Tennessee; but this is no
the case. The tenptaiioh 90 drink IA
I'm fact been absolutely placed out O
sight OF more than half the boys an
young meu-of-rhr STATE; so, that out
side OF the miserable little ineorpOF
porated tows and the cities OF IN
state. a z ,nesstien. of sObsrrn .
growing up -AOE4- (
To-day no party in Tennessee woul
dare advocate a return 10 the old Orde
% things. No party leader with ord
nary saga6ity0 ~ould think OF sdvc
eating the removal of therestrictiF
legislation. t.-..... GA -
The day Is not FAR distant when n
political Parries VIII be fully CON
mitted 10 the doctrine OF total ahsfi
nence and constitutional prohibition