The Waco daily examiner. [volume] (Waco, Tex.) 187?-1888, 1885-08-23

those who knew the speaker, ii was
hardly necessary for him to say that
he abominated intemperance with as
much Of fervor Ms the most jealous
prohibiiionist, and believed that no
political platform could be formulated
good enough to redeem from unfit
ness for Office a personally corrupt or
drunken man. But he believed re-
generation for drunkards must come
like regeneration for sinners-from "A
change of heart and rekindling the
fires of his moral nature so as TO ena-
BILE their victims TO work out his own
redemption, This contamination is
beyond the reach or province of law,
and belongs TO the domain OF the
home, the school aud the character
not the church dominated over by
partisans enthusiasts, however honest
they may be, but by ministers who
follow in the footsteps of the meek
and lowly Jesus, who, In no instance,
was known to appeal TO the civil arm
to aid In the suppression of All evil,
aud rated all sorts of intemperance
alike.
The crimes caused by liquor or in,
significant in number when compared
with those caused by avarice, which
lights the torch of the incendiary
sharpcns the danger OF the assassin,
polsons the honesty of the officers,
drags the judicial ermine in the mine,
! fills our courthouscs with the bust
ness which eats up our substance, and
pours its victims into our jails aud
pcnitentiarics by the hundred
thousands earh year. The potency
of its charm made a wretched victim
sell his Savior to a bloodthirsty mob
for paltry sum, and similar fasci-
nation has caused menoi u all ages TO
forget the ties of kinship and rush
into iratracidal carnage. Even gov
ernmcnts have been drawn into Its
vortex, and burning cities, ravaged
fields and slaughtered people, attest
It's overwhelming power for evil. IL
the principle of prohibition is right,
ought we not TO abolish money, which
st. Paul declares to be the "root of all
evilp Aud then pass ON TO everything
else in turn, the abuse of which has
proven hurtiul, and if we start upon
this career of reformation, where shall
we endI lie showed from figures.
verified by the collector OF taxes of
the county, that the measure, ii adopt
I'd. would increase the county tax live
cents on the hundred dollars, the city
tax ten on the hundred dollars, and in
case prohibition should prevail
throughout the state, a larger increase
in taxation would become inevitable.
The capital invested In this business
at Waco is entitled TO II decent meas
ure of protection. and should
not be ruthlcssly destroyed without
mature deliberaiion, and ample op.
portunity to provide for its safety
and security. These Investments have
been made in good faith, under the
sanctity of law, aud this issue, involv-
ing Ms IL does, their integrity, has
been su idenly sprung upon the coun-
ty without notice or time for prepare
ton.
Appeals have been made to the
country to come forward and regu-
late the town, and the town is pro-
testing, by u large majority, against
Interference from the country in its
local affairs. Its people feel that lis
commercial interests are in serious
jeopardy, and with some show of rca-
son, point to the fate of other towns
similarly situated in vindication OF
this opinion. They appeal to their
fellow citizens of the country pre-
ciuUts to allow them the privilege of
regulating their domestic and munic-
ipal concerns in their own way, ac-
cording to orthodox democratic prin-
ciple and traditions.
After celebrating other points re-
lating to the local effects of the issue,
General Ross concluded AZ follows;
Fellow citizens, have endeavored to
express to you my honest convictions
pursued in this crisis. Many of
my friends, good men and true. have
views upon this question antagonistic
to those entertained and expressed by
me and to such | concede perfect
honesty OF purpose and sincerity OF
action. They may honestly believe
that this agitation does not threaten
the integrity of the party to which
we belong, and that the question un-
der discussion belongs to the domain
of morals, and not politics. But be-
lieving as do, that the movement is
fraught with mischief and conceals u
hideous countenance behind silver
veil, do not hesitase to meet it at the
threshold and condemn it before II
takes more defiuite shape. propose
to speak my honest sentiments and
convictions at all times and upon all
questions, without regard to its effects
personally upon myself or my for
tunes, and SO long rs the party flag
waves ii will proclaim that we are
free people-free in thought, habit
and speech, aud not until il goes
down In defeat and dishonor, can
infringement of personal rights aud
liberties ever take place.