The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-10-08
TEMPERANCE DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BIZ D. W. HEIDELBERG, Shubuta,
Miss, to whom all contributions for this Depart
uent should be addressed
What the Traffic Costs the People.

I
The following is from Gov. John P
st. Johns letter of acceptance of thl
nomination of the National Prohibition
Convention for the Presidency:
i The amount received by the Govern
nent for duties on imports is less thar
5000, 900, 600 annually. There are abou
| 10000 retail dealers in intoxicating
liquors in the United States, each o.
whom pays to our Government $25, il
consideration of which sum they arr
! permitted to carry on their busines,
for a term of twelve months When
we add this to the amount paid by dis
tillers, brewers and wholesale dealers
we find that the interest of the Govern
ment in the manufacture and sale of in
toxicating liquors is about $80,000, ,00O
annually.
This traffic, sanctioned as it is by the
laws of our country, costs the people, at
| the lowest estimate, 1000, 900, 900 year,
not to speak of the destroyed homes,
debauched manhood, poverty, heartache,
crime and corruption it produces. This
| disgraceful business should be suppress
/ ed and the enormous sum of money
that, under the present system, is worse
than thrown away, saved to the people,
and thus a protection would be given
to the industries of this country that
would enable us successfully to throw
open our doors wide to the competitiol 1
of the world.
The Republican and Democratic par
ties favor the continuance of the manu-
facture and sale of intoxicating liquor
as beverage, while the Prohibition
party demands that the same shall be
forever suppressed. Thus an issue is
presented to the people in which is in
volved the protection of every home in
the land. 1t is not mere local issue
either, but it is a national as we'll as a
practical question upon which large
and respectable body of citizens, against
whose convictions party discipline is
powerless, have decided to vote, and
they will not be found halting between
two opinions touching this matter, but
will work and pray and vote against
this great evil until it is driven from
our land never to return.
The Government is simply reflex of
the individuals composing it. If we
want an honest, sober Government we
must have an honest, sober people.
But we can never have an honest, sober
people as long as the Government sane
tions that which makes the citizens dis
honest, drunken and corrupt.
The declaration of principles, which l
heartily indorse, as set FORT. -. ssso pat
form of the Prohibition party, is entitled
to thoughtful consideration and earnest |
support of all good citizens, without re-
gard to locality or former political afili- |
ations. Our country needs an admins |
tration that will rise above mere parti-
san consideration in the selection of
public officials.
Make honesty, sobriety and efficiency, |
and not service to party, a test. 1t |
should be conducted, not in the interest |
of any particular section, party, race or
purpose, but in the interest of the whole
people. To accomplish this all good |
citizens should promptly step to the
front and be counted for the right.
This is no time for dodging. Moral
cowardice will never win, and surely |
never deserves a victory.