The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1885-01-08

division through fear of hurting
anything else that they have al in
terest In.
The vital points to be carried are
the legislatures Of the states. The
legislatures should be pledged to
prohibition IN every state which
elects a legislature next fall. and ia
states where the veto powerexists. IT
must include the governor. but 1t
must not include anything that
does lot bear directly upon this
question, for if complicated with
other issues it will never be carried.
There are many questions of impor-
tance In government to be consid
cred, and 50 long as prohibition is
permitted TO 60 humping around
among them it will be crushed.
A majority of the voters of the
states of New York and Ohio are in
favor Of prohibition, and vet last
fall the prohibition candidate re-
celved, In round numbers, 10000 ia
one state and $4,000 in the other.
The mass of the prohibitiouists OF
both states felt that they could no;
afford to complicate other interest," Is
with this, and they let it alone.
But make prohibition the Issue on
the next legislature, which is the
first step, and the two states woulc
be carried trium phantly.
What needs to be>done this win
ter is to orgsnize the whole country
on this one question. Every mal
who is willing to pledge himself to
vote Tor candidates for the legisla-
ture who will pledge themselves to
vote for submitting prohibition to
the people, should put himself
upon paper. Every county should
be organized and a systematic can
vass made. Meetings should be
held regularly, and addressed by
the best speaker procurable, to the
end of enlightening the people on
this the most important question
that has come before the American
people for a century.
Business men, who are in a dollar
and cent way, more interested in
this than any other class, should
take hold of it and give the move
ment strength and character.
When it is taken hold of in this
way it is as good as done. Rum
can be practically killed out in two
thirds of the states in three years
one year to elect a Legislature
that will submit a prohibition
amendment, and one year to get to-
gether and put in operation the
machinery for enforcement. 1t took
Maine 30 years to do it, but the
other states have the benefit of
Names experience, and can avoid
her errors.
The thing necessary is organiza-
tion, not of a class or party but of
the whole people. Rum is a curse
that assails the whole people, and
the whole people should he organ
lied against it. To fight this mon
ster that has its hold upon all fami-
lies, we need every man and woman
of every creed, religious and politi
cal. 1t is danger that has no re-
gard for creeds or party affiliations.
1t claims its victims from all
classes and all parties. The son of
a democrat is in as much danger
from it as the son of republican,
and the home of Unitarian is as
liable to be invaded as that of 3
Methodist or Presbyterian. It
makes war upon humanity, regard
less Of lines, and humanity regard
less OF lines must enter the lists
against it. The country must be
organized against rum, and rum
must be fought where it can be af-
fected and nowhere else. In the or
ganization we hope to see accom-
plished, there should be no side
issues involved; there should be no
clashing with other issues or other
interests, but the way should be
made clear for every man and wo-
man who appreciates the danger
rum Is to the country, to aid in its
suppression.
The Blade is doing all in its
power to bring about this organiza-
tisns. There are plenty of other
plans aud all of them have merit,
but this is certainly one that every
one can accept conscieHciously. 1t
does not interfere with any other
method. Those who hold to the
idea of national party can certain
ly not object to this preliminary
massing Of the forces. 1t does not
detract particle from their
strength, on the contrary it in-
creases it. Nothing can be lost by
arousing public conscience on this
question, preparatory to an attack
all along the long. No harm can
result from a mprehensive organ
ization of all classes in opposition
10 the internal traffic.
The Blade is sending out blanks
for signatures by the thousand TO
every state in the Union, thus doing
what it believes to be good work
work acceptable to all who wish to
pulyerize the rum power.-Toledo
Blade.
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