The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1884-02-14
COMMUNICATIONS.
Friend Democrats:

temperate citizens Of Rapides Par
ish, or at least those who pass for
such, have concluded to wipe out
whisky selling and drinking, and
bring success to our doors by the
new era. There has been so much
written about "the home of the
orphan and wall of the widow"
that it is hardly necessary to read
one Of the articles-you know it
already by heart-it would be tru-
ly refreshing if some one Of the
Anti-Liquor Champions, would start
some new argument. However
they have had quite a walk over
no one having the temerity to an
swer their arguments.
I cannot agree entirely with the
writer's of these articles. / do not
think liquor is the sole cause Of our
want of prosperity there is an evil
that surpasses it as far as the sun
does the moon-I refer to the prac-
tice of selling and dealing in fire
arms-this is the cause of the crimes
so often alluded to. What crime
would follow little spree, if the
shotgun, rifle, pistol or bowie-knife
were not called in? Probably O..
knock down, black eye or some
thing of that nature, but no crime
It is a we'll known fact that boy
ten years old can purchase a pistol
at almost any store; these boys are
being raised with the idea of carry
ing weapons, and they will follow
it as long as they can be purchased
at almost any corner. Break that
up. Let the Police Jury in its
wonderful career of regulating the
moral Of this parish, prohibit the
sale Of fire arms-let them, also,
pass a law as to carrying them,
making it fine Of 60 days IN jail
no money consideration-and you
will soon see what an elevated tone
to society there will be. How
much more secure one will fesl in
walking on riding the roads. Don't
talk and write so much about the
evils of whisky drinking, "they all
do 1.-THE ones that are bowling
loudest are probably. the hardest
drinkers--and that too, on the sly.
Again, they are always running
down the merchant, accusing him Of
all that is dishonest and degrading
to think about these little whisky
shops, &C., &c.-sti1l, who do they
go to when they want favors Z who
furnishes them the bread, meat,
plows &c. z and carries them over
from year to year, and frequently
without chance Of pay? These
great anti-iquor men, VILE curse
and abuse merchant, then walk
right into his store, and ask for a
little Of the "you know I am
feeling badly to day" BAH! the
world is full of such hypocrisy.
Go to work, stay at home and at
tend to your business, and you will
meet with more success. Laziness,
is what is killing this country
not whisky drinking. Show me
the states that are prosperous, is It
because they do not drink strong
drink 2 No. Look at New York,
Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky,
Georgia, Texas &C., &c.y do they
drink whisky there? Of course
they do, and fifty times as much as
Louisiana, and still they are that
much more prosperous. One Of the
main causes of our want of prosper
ity, is our system Of business. The
planters DO wrong to rent their
lands in the way of one fourth and
one half-the lands are going to
ruin from this tenant system the
planter no longer having control
over his own plantation. And fur
Their the credit system, that is the
ell Of all. You talk about your
ruined homes, your broken down