The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-01
An important Epoch.


On the day Of the issue Of this mum
I number Of The CLARl0N, the State Pro
/ hibitioa Convention will be in session
Ia the State Capital. il viii be com
/ posed Of representative, from the
sovereign people of all quarters Of the
/ state, and of all races, cOl0rs, religions
and politics. All differences Of opinion
will be laid aside, and men, who may
not have one other sentiment in com
mon, viii stand shoulder to shoulder and
heart to heart in the sacred cause Of
delivering our land from the curse of
strong drink
1t Is impossible to repress d spirit Of
enthusiasm at seeing in the list Cf dele
gates the names Of farmers, mechanics,
merchants, teachers, preachers, lawyers,
doctors, editors and judges. who propose
70 lay aside their respective mplOymcnts
70 come up to consider, each from his
own standpoint the rayages of this
monster evil Probably, in the history
OF the world has no sentiment grown
with So astonishing rapidity, and enlisted
in its advocacy, so numerous, so intelli-
gent, 20 reputable following. There
IS no wonder that it should thus have
grown, because it has for its purpose the
| good Of all, the evil Of none. True, it
| proposes 20 turn out Of employment the
makers and sellers Of all alcoholic
/ beverages. These classes may lose some
money for awhile, and may be subjected
| to inconvenience in changing occupa-
tions; but, there are many places il
which they may soon find employment.
which will make a decent, respectable
living for themselves, and at the same
time viii not suck out the substance
and destroy the manhood Of their neigh
b0rs. Then, including even these classes.
these unfortunate classes. the prohibi-
zionist aims at the well being of every
mortal. lie wants TO stop that dreadful
cataract which pours down the thr0ats
of the people annually more money
than Is spent for bread and meat, for
public education and foreign missions,
all put together. He wants to remove
temptation out of the way of the poor
victim who longs to stop drinking but
is not able. He wants to break up the
mantraps, whose alluring bait entces so
many of the youth of the land to ruin.
He wants to abolish that accursed
traffic which makes more widows and
orphans, and which degrades and de
stroys more men, than pestilerce and
war.
There, is no wonder, then, that a
cause, which has tor its object, aims 50
philanthropic, should have achieved
such progress in numbers and respect
ability. There is no reason why it
should not continue to move on steadily
until it has enlisted every lover of his
kind, under the banner, whose peaceful
folds are inscribed with sobriety and
manhood, with health and wealth, with
purity and truth.
1t is no stretch Of the imagination
nor rhetorical license, to say. that the
Prohibition Convention is the most i'm
portant Convention ever held in the
State Of Mississippi If it is successful
in its purposes, it will relieve the people
of tax large enough to feed their
| families and to provide public education.
1t will virtually abolish the criminal
courts, by destroying the most fruitful
source Of all crime.
Members of the Convention should
! regard themselves As having been charged
with a most sacred obligation; for the
| faithful performance of which, they viii
| be held strictly accountable by God and
man. They should permit no personal
feeling, no party aftiIiatiou, no desire for
| office, no hope of gain or fear of loss, to
| interfere in the leasC possible degree,
with the success of the Incompatible
| cause in which they are met.