The Brookhaven leader., 1885-04-09
The State Prohibition Convention.

i met IN Tue city OF jackson on the
20Lh inst, and agreed TO call a State
Convention OF ProhibitiVnists, July
ist, 1885. After reviewing the work
Of months past, and considering the
reports from various sections of the
/ State, the committee were enCourao-
ell to believe that our cause was new
err so strong in the convictions of
the people, and that the day Of tri.
umph is near at hand. There ar,
constant accesSions Of able, patriotic
men to our ranks, while the zeal of
old friends is quickened by new
flame. As attention is arrested and
intelligent thought awakened, the
friends of Prohibition are multiplied.
This is already potent, if not dom
inant sentiment in Mississippi. We
only need more thorough organiza-
tiun t. achieve the righteous end for
which we earnestly contend. Our
immediate objective point is a local
option law which will enable the
people by counties and at the ballot
boz to determine the question of IL
ccnse or prohibition. The present
petition law is unsatisfactory and
largely imperative, because it shifts
the issue from question of priRci
pie TO personal .frieHdShip and con.
sheraton. For purely personal rea-
sons many man signs a petition
for license when his convictions pro
test, and his unfettcrcd judgement
condemns. We want statute that
will compel a decision on the merits
of the issue, free from the embar-
easements ofindivilual complaint or
appeal. Why the people should not
have the right accorded them to de-
eide this question by vote, no one
unfriendly to our cause has ever
been able to answer.
To accomplish this desired result
we invoke the cordial corporation
of all good citizens, white and BLACK,
and Of every religious and political
creed. Our last State Convention
adopted the following in its declara-
ton Of principles 1--WE further de
clare it TO be our conviction that the
cause of prohibition should not be
entanelcd with rarty politics. With
out disturbing the party affiliations
of any citizen, we ask his support
of this great reform, which should
be sacredly enthroned above the con
tests for mere place and power We
Go affirm, however, that intemper-
auce should not be countenlnced in
public officials, and that no drunk
ard is worthy Of SUPPORT" Ana to
that matured dcIivcrance we are
firmly pie ICED, We are, therefore,
the enemy of no party in the State,
unless IN regular organized and au-
thorized convention it prononnceS
against our cause.
Before the last two legislatures
we presented our appeal and it was
not needed. True there was a ma
iority in the lower House of the last
Legislature who were willing to &C
cord the people the humble boon we
asked, but by parliamentary tactics
and unfliendly amendments, the
measure was defeated. That histo-
ry will not be repeated and to pre-
vent its repetition the last State Pro
hibltion Convention adopted the fol
lowing
1--WE believe it to be the true poll
cy and the duty Of the friends OF
Temperance in the several counties
of the State to support only those
for the Legis lature at the next APP
preaching election, who favor gen
cral local option law"
We do not impcach any candi
dates fidelity to the platform of his
party, but his relation to this great
non partizan moral question must be
interrogated. IF he declares him
self inlmical to reform and in favor
OF the saloon, he cannot command
our support. 1t is therefore, the du-
ty of Prohibitionists, IN both politi-
cal parties, to attend the primaries
and secure the nomination Of good
men who will heed the voice Of the
people in this mighty contest. So
long as political states are arrang-
ed 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 coun-
ty conventions.
The indications are that the State
convention, called to meet in the
city of Jackson on the 1st dav of
July, will be more largely attended
than any similar body ever assem-
bied at the capitol. Every county
must be represented, and every col
or, calling, avocation and profession.
1t will be a gathering of patriotic,
loyal MissiSsippians. industrious of
political preferment, but unalterablv
intent on the redemption of their be-
loved State from the domination of