Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-11-14
Atlanta VS.. t'Outlying Towns and
Villages"

We feel sorry, very sorry, for the
Atlanta Constitution in its ridicu-
lous attempts to persuade the people
of Georgia, but more especially the
citizens Of Atlanta, that it has really
reached an attitude" on the Prohi
hibition question, Knowing itself
to be in antagonism TO the intelli-
gence, morality and Christianity Of
the people in its opposition to tenn
perance, and, at the same time,
fearing their influence, AMI licking
the feet of the rum-power, which it
mortally breads, the Constitution
still keeps an eye on the main
chance, and tries to coddle both
sides. Its pretence of favoring
temperance is the merest twaddle.
Nobody ever heard of its discovery
of the virtues Of high license until
it became evident that the fight was
drawing near to Atlanta. Then,
Judas like, it strays into the tenn
perance camp, urging Prohibition
lists to patch up perpetual truce
with the rttm.sellers, ON condition
of receiving from them an annual
tribute in the shape of high Ii
cense.
1t assures us that Prohibition in
the cities is a failure, that the liquor
trade continues to flourish even
more than before, etc., !, then it
turns and gives itselfthe lie by whin
ing that Prohibition is likely to
ruin the business of Atlanta. Ac-
cOrding to the Constitutions own
showing the increase Of the liquor
traffic upon which the prosperity Of
the city so much depends, is likely
to ruin Atlanta. Only one posi-
BILE escapes is left for the Constitu-
tion consistency, viz: That the tax
(about $60,000) accruing from Ii
quor is the chief factor in the city's
prosperity. But no, the Constitu-
tion says that as to the tax that
would be easily enough raised from
other sources. What then is the
matter? The lack of the liquor
revenue is not the city's difficulty.
HProhibition don't prohibit" and
the sale will be increased. Yet we
hear the hypocritical howl that At
lanta's prosperity is in imminent
peril such logic would shame
school girl.
The miserable position Of the
Constitution reminds one of the
circus rider who tried to ride two
horses going in opposite directions;
it wishes to keep with the dogs, yet
run with the game. hence its
wretched failure. Every temper
ance man in the land had far rather
see the paper battling openly in the
liquor ranks and making no sham
pretence at favoring temperance.
Let it keep out of temperance
camp altogether and fight on that
side where most of the spoils. are
likely to be found. We want no
such help.
To say nothing of the sinister
motives for its course, which have
time and again been specifically
charged upon the Constitution and
never once denied to say nothing
of the partnership of at least one of
its owners in the Kimball and the
prospect of a golden harvest from
the high license monopoly which is
to be enjoyed by "four or FIVE re-
spectacle Saloons" the chief one of
which will of course, be the Kim
ball ; there are yet some proposition
which the Constitution has the eff
trontery to urge which concern the
smaller towns of Georgia.
The Constitution sWells up and
grows red in the face, because pro-
hibitionIsts have the audacity to
compare the prosperity of Atlanta
with some Of the outlying towns and
villages, but the parallel will not
hold 0and undar anv o;rouro ofanoac