Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-12-18
PROHIBITION VICTORY IN At
LANTA.
by President E. o. Thnyer Of Clark
University.

LANIA.
BY President T.. q. Thnyer Of Clark
University.
Victory for the right was the glorious result
ON "Wednesday, November 25, of the most ro-
csntest against the.liquor traffic ever
waged In this or any country. 1t was remark
able in respect to the character OF the contes' |
tants, the methods of conducting the camgaign, |
the intense enthusiasm aroused, the great |
obstacles overcome by, ,the.tempcrance side, the |
arguments of facts brought out for use in SINH |
lar campaigns elsewhere, and the incidental re- |
suits brought about which are hardly less val |
uablo than the main point gained. Let US look
at each OF these points carefully.
There was a very clear limo OF domnrcation
between the men arraycd on .eithcr side. In
the temperance phnlanx were drawn up all the
clergy, white and colorcd, the leading lawyers,
business men, and skilled mechan-
ics On the nntl.Prohibition side were tho
brewers, wholesale and retail liquor dealers,
owners OF real estate rented by saloonists, the
Kimball House lessees and their employees, and,
as usual, all the lower elements OF tho city. OF
course, there were a few respectable men, but
none outside of the classes mentioned took any
prominent part in the campaign. The Young
Mems Prohibition club, one thousand strong.
was born in prayer meeting of the Young
Mems Christian Association, and enrolled many
OF the best men In the city. The temperance
speakers were clergymen, United States Sena-
tors, judges, and professors; on the liquor side,
two small Justices a few merchants, and sever
al colored politicians. The audiences of the
one, numbered by thousands, were composed OF
the best white gentlemen and ladies Of the city
aud the cultured and respectable colored peo-
etnI Nf
of mon interested in the sale or use OF whiskcy
and the lowest elements of the colored .popu-
lation. So marked was the difference In the APP
pearance of those who wore the blue and those
who wore the red that 1t excited general com
mcnt.
tho part of the Prohibitionists, are worthy OF
study by all engaged in such work. The organ
ization OF the temperance forces was perfect,
and every move was made with military pre-
cision. The Prohibition club was divided fnto
companies and squads, each with Its officers,
and all knowing their special duties. The work
was so divided among committees and sub-com,.
efficient service Every statement or argument
published by the liquor interest was met the
A statement came out one day that the agitation
had already injured business, and Immediately
appeared card stating that business was un-
usually good, signed by nearly all the leading
business houses. Then came wall from nine
teen doctors that the sick must have whisky,
which was followed by a card from forty OF the
Oldest and best physicians, stating that they
were satisfied with the law. Then the leading
architects denied over their signatures that the
prospects for building were destroyed, and sew
eral firms engaged in manufacturing building
material who had been reported by the liquor
men us shut down." requested to be allowed
to state that ey %eTe doan stories OF the
ruinous effects of prohibition in other states
and in surrounding towns of Georgia. This was
followed by Il perfect avalanche of letters from
reliable sources, gathered by the Committee on
Facts" showing that the abolition of the liquor
traffic had been everywhere blessing: other
committees secured the registration of inditfer-
ent voters, and paid the taxes OF the poor.
| Others were on the lookout for illegalitics in
registration and voting, and, In short every
| march to victory. On election day the ladies
opened lunch rooms ut various points, and fed
thousands Of prohibition workers aud voters.
prayer meetings were held in the churches,
where earnest supplications went up to heaven
for victory TO the right. The gracious answer to
| these prayers made Thanksgiving day joyous
| occasion in Christian homes.
| Another remarkable feature in the contest
| was the intense enthusiasm manifested. This
was manifested not only by the earnest work
already described, but by the crowds that every
| night and on Sunday afternoon filled Sam Jone's
| great Gospel Tent" On one occasion, while
| DR.. FELTON, was speaking, six hundred colored
| voters headed by band, marched into the
| tent, while the five thousand present set up a
| deafcning shout that lasted for several minutes.
| Men said such scenes OF excitement had never
| been known here, even i'll the hottest political
| contests. The election was the topic OF conver
| sation everywhere absorbing every other ques
ton. proposition to enter upon any new un-
| dertaking was always met with the reply: nc
use trying to do anything until after the elec
| tion," The registration was several thousand
| larger than in any presidential election, show
ing the great interest taken in the struggle. Or
the night before the election the whisky men
organized an immense torchlight procession
and marched great body OF poor white ant
degraded colored men to vacant depot, wher
they fed them and drugged them with liquor
| till mprninp. when they were taken 10 the Doll
and voted in solid column The colore'
churches, to counteract this movement, KEEP
"open house" all night, with wholesome FOO
and good advice, and sent great companies 9
voters to the polls singing songs OF triumph
As they marched along their neat appearance
and intelligent faces were in striking contras
| to the poor fellows from their all-night debauc
at the depot. All day long the contest raged
Everybody was in the m most intense excitement
hither and thither for voters; men were pei
suadcd and some bought; every effort was mad
by both parties to poll Las as many @ d SStes Posss
result announced
|, The victory is all the moro remarkable whe
we consider the obstacles to be overcome. Til
, fight was against business in which abot
100000 was invested, bringing in revenue
the city of about 100000, against brewer.
| several large wholesale liquor houses. and aboi
one hundred groggeries; against the owners an
friends OF tho Kimball House, Atlanta's prid
, whose maintenance depends on the success
! the magnificent bar room, ii report is true an
), against hundreds of ignorant men, white M
: coored unable to reason. but easily bough
9 No contest OF the kind ever seemed more hop
, less until II became evident that the best pc
lfple olihe city We're aroused and united and d
~ terniincd to win.
% The incidental results of the campaign are
!, wonderful interest and value. Other cities al
. | towns in Georgin have caught the inspiration
s and are already moving to follow the good Z
n ample set by the capital city. The cloque
. speeches and the convincing Arguments broug
Z forth have awakened public sentiment
l. favor Of temperance which cannot be estimate
O. The moral results of the agitation OF the que
o ton are worth the price paid for the victor
Atlanta has been well advertised all over 4
world. and probably thousands viii he attract,
to IL as n city yofcnterprising of anu moral strengt
and good place for homes, where children G.
be educated in safety. The absence OF bloo
shed or riot on an election day of such intcn
excitement Is certainly very crcdi,able to I
city. Hut, perphaps, no class of people reap
more benefit fioin the contest than the color
people, liy their fidelity toprinciple they pre-
" cd That they are worthy OF trust. the wh
people recognized the manlincss OF their &C
,, Colquitt, In a speech, said that the mouths
- thousands would now be stopped who had III
erto proclaimed that the Negro was Incapable
e. reasoning and unworthy of the right OF suffra
=, During the campaign white and colored peo
eu mingled In the audience and on the platior
an and on election day while ladies served lunci
to white and colored alike from tho same tabl
rs 1t has been proven that there Is better clnsi
nj coored people, who cannot be bought, but "
A., will stand with their respectable white friei
III when any great moral question Is at stake.
noble conduct of the colored people, oi Atla'
ou has lifted the whole race nearer to the cove
goal Of equal rights Christian citizens,
ey by alliance with the good and the true.
Atlanta. Ga.