Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1885-10-17
THE TEMPERANCE ALLIANCE.

lhE TEMPERANCE A14LtANAE-
The Necessity Of Organization and Active
Work.
Objects of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES of
VIM. Sykes at Manchester, Tenn.
Nashville American.
The subject upon which will adj
dress you tonight is the best means Of
advancing the temperance cause.
mean hy the temperance cause the
cause OF entire abstinence from the
use of intoxicating liquoos as bever-
age. The moderate use OF whatever
is beneficial, and contributes to mans
enjoyment. is temperance; but the
lmmoderate use of that which is bene-
fetal, or any use OF that which Is lot
beneficial, but injurious, is internper-
ance.
For instance, any use OF opium, ar
senic or any other poison, as daily
food or drink, is injurious and IS in
temperance. These unnatural stirnu
lants have tendency 70 increase, and
consequently any use OF them is per-
iIous in the extreme. intoxicating
liquor is one of these dangerous arti-
Giles.
SUBMISSION OF THE QUESTION.
Yon ask me, @What do temperance
men desire in the way OF Legislation p
They only ask that the question OF
prohibiting the manufacture and sale
of Intoxicating liquors as 4 beverage
be submitted TO the people us a con-
stitutionaI amendment They do not
ask men to advocate prohibition, but
thew do ask that the people be allowed
to vote on this question free from all
party bias. This is in accordance
with our State Constitution, for the
first section Of the Declaration Of
Rights SAYS that "all power Is inherent
in the people, and all free govern
ments are founded on their authority
and instituted for their peace, safety
and happiness; for the advancement
of these ends they have at all times an
undeniabie and indefeasible right tO
alter. reform or abolish the Govern
ment in such Il manner as they may
think proper" etc.
The man who refuses to allow the
people this eight, secured by the Con-
stitution, denies the doctrine Of popu
lar sovereignty, and says in effect that
the LIQUOR men and the liquor inter
ests shall govern the country.
POWER OF THE LIQUOR DEALERS.
Z This liquor interest is a. powerful
interest. There are over 1900 liquor
dealers in the State, and there are So
100000 invested in the liquor traffic.
1t il natural that they should spend
money, end that freely, To uphold
what they believe to be their pecun.n-
nv interests. They will make Il des-
perate struggle to perpetuate traffic
which we believe is destroying the
country.
The LIQUOR dealers are thoroughly
organized. They have Il liquor deal |
erS' association, with initiation fees !
dues and assessments How much |
money they raise by those agencies | |
have no means Of knowing, but | sup
pose it is ample for all their purposes. |
To counteract these efforts the tenn |
perance men must work they must in |
form the public mind as to the extent |
of the evils of intemperance and OF |
the dangers of the liquor traffic. To |
do this will require small sums OF |
money, not exceeding five or ten cents |
per month from each one. How in |
significant sum for such great puf
posel Who will refuse to give it,?
WHAT Is THE TEMPERANCE ALLIANCE {? |
We must have organization and act
i've effort. The Temperance Alliance
is intended to embrace all who are in |
favor OF dong away with drunkenness
and suppreSsing the liquor traffic,
whether they be total abstainers, tenn
perate drinkers, drunkards or liquor
sellers. Il draws the line between the
supporters and opponents OF the liquor
traffic.
The constitution OF this alliauce says
1--WE, the undersigned. being in favor
of suppressing the manufacture. sale
and use OF spirituOus, vinous and other
alcoholic liquors as Il beverage, hereby
become members of the -- Tenn
perance Alliance" All friends of the
temperance cause may unite in this al
lance.
The Good Templars are doing a no.
BILE work; their specific object IS 20 re-
form the inebriate, to sustain the re-
formed and to prevent the formation
of bad habits among the young. The
Woman's Christian Temperance Union
Is an association Of noble women band
ed together to save their husbands,
fathers, sons and brothers from the
errors of intemperaDce. The Order OF
the Golden Gross is an insurance COM
pany based upon temperance princl-
piles, and intended to give temperance !
men the benefit of their temperance j
habits in the way of life insurance.
The Temperance Alliance is intend
ed to embrace all of these and form
one grand temperance army, having
all their meetings public and requir
ing no special pledges.
With an efficient County Alliance
and active District Alliances organized |
by the County Alliances, a great work
can be done. Let each Alliance have {
meeting once a mouth ut some regu-
lar time. Let Il temperance choir,
composed Of your best singers. be
formed. Let your meetings be Culjv-
ened with fine music, vocal and instru- I
mental; let there be readings, recita- ;
tons and addresses by your young peo- J
pie, male and female; let your proceed
ings be attractive and agreeable as {
well as instructive, and you will arouse
an interest among all classes.
VALUE OF THE ISSUE.
Again, let me suggest that every t
temperance family in the State take :
The Issue, temperance and family !
journal published at Nashville, and {
edited by George w. Armistead. 1t {
Is the best and cheapest paper in the a
United States in proportion to its
value. II should not only be read, but
preserved and bound, so MS To be OF
future use. If this paper could be j
placed In the hands OF every family in d
the State, the liuu0r men might Sppud | 9
rs much money as they pleased and