The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-04-15
The State Prohibition Convention

The State Executive COmmitte met in
the city of jackson on the Goth inst.
and agreed to call a state Convention OF
prohIOitiouists, July, lst, 1854. After
reviewing the work OF months past, and
considering the reports from various
sections OF the State, the committee were
encouraged TO believe that our cause was
never so long in the convictions of the
people. and the day of triumph Is near
at hand There are constant accessions
of able, patriotic men IN our ranks,
while the zeal of old friends is quicken
ed by new flame. As attention is
arrested and intelligent thought awak-
keucd, the friends of Prohibition are
multiplied. This is alerady potent if
not a dominant sentiment III Mississippi.
We only need more through organiza-
ton 10 achieve the righteous end for
which we earnestly contend. Our i'm
mediate objective point is a local option
law which will enable the people By
counties and at the ballot boz to determine
the question of license or prohibition.
The present petition law if unsatisfac-
tory and largely imperative, because it
shifts from a question of principte to
pers0uai friendship and consideration.
For pure personal reasons many a man
signs a petition for license when his
convictions protest, and his untetted
Judgment condems. We want statute
that will compel decision on the merits
Of the issue, free from the embarass-
meut of Individual complaint or appeal.
Why the people should not have the
right accorded them to decide this
question by vote, no one unfriendly to
our cause has ever been able to answer.
To accomplish this desired result we
invoke the careful co operation of all
good citizens, white and black, and of
every religious and political creed.
our last state Convention adopted the
following in its declaration of princl-
pies. I'VE further declare it to be our
conviction that the cause of prohibition
should not be entanged by party poll
tics Without disturbing the party
affiliations of any citizen, we ask his
support of this great reform, which
should he sIcredly enthroned above the
contests for mere place and power. We
do affirm, however, that intemperance
should not be coutenanced in public
officials, and that no drunkard Is
worthy of support" And to that ma
tured deliverance we are firmly pledged.
We are, therefore theenemy of no party
in the State, unless in regular organized
and authorized convention it prOnounces
against our cause.
Before the last two legislatures we
presentented our appeal and it was not
needed. True there was majority III
the lower House of the last Legislature
who we're willing to accord the people
the humble boon we ask, but by parlia-
mentary tactics and unfriendly amend
ments, the measure was defeated. That
history will not be repeated; and to
prevent ITS repetition the last State
Prohibition Convention adopted the
following:
"We believe it to be the true policy
and the duty of the friends of Temper
ance in the several counties of the State
TO support only those for the Legislature
at the next approaching election, who
favor a general local option Law"
We do not impeach any candidate
fidelity to the platform of his part, but
his relation to this great non-partlzan
moral question must be interrogated.
If he declares himself inimical to reform
and in favor of the saloon, he cannot
command our support. 1t Is, therefore,
the duty OF Prohibitionisis, in both po-
ltical parties, to attend the primaries
and secure the nomination of good men
whe will heed the voice of the people IN
this mighty contest. SO long as political
States are arranged in the back rooms
of saloons, we may expect the whisky
sentiment to dominate our legislative
halls, To avert this evil the friends OF
reform must be heard and felt in the
County Conventions.
The indications are that the State
Convention, called to meet in the city
Of Jackson on the 1st day of July, will
be more largely attended than any sim
liar body ever assembled ut the Capitol
Every county must be represented and
every color, calling, ayocation and pro
fession 1t will be a gathering oi
patriotic, loyal Mississippians, unde
sirous of political preferment, but unal
terably intent, on the redemption OF theil
beloved State from the domination OF
that matchless evil, the liquor traffic
The days of apology are past and the
time for manly assertion has arrived
We will come up from all creeds anc
from both parties and races, united In
common cause, whose watchword L
holier than any party shibboleth anc
whose boundaries are broader than any
ecclesiastical lines or race distinctions
CHAs. b. GALLOWAY,
Chm State Ex Com.