The Opelousas courier., 1885-12-05
Prohibition in the South.
N. 0. Times-D Democrat.

Hidut y years, Iof ~ is Cue ufSG
contest in a large City, and the
success Of the anti-liquo party
there promises to play no little
part in Southern political affairs
in the future.
The liquor question. which
was barely known in the South
a few years ago, is now an i'm
portant question here, the con-
test being carried on in nearly
every Southern State, in Ten
nessee, Mississippi, Texas, Lou
isiana and Alabama with special
yigor and energy. The move
ment has been growing in
strength from day to day, aud
while the prohibitionists have
sustained not D few defeats, the
general result has been greatly
in their favor. The prohibition
law in Georgia is especially IA
vorable to them in this respect.
Ii a county votes against prohi-
bition a new election to try the
matter over again can be called;
but as soon as it once votes
against the sale of liquor the
matter is decided, and cannot
be reopened. Under the infu-
ence Of a law of this kind 1873
counties have adopted prohibit
ton, while only fourteen yet al
low the sale Of liquor. The lat
ter include the larger towns, and
now that Atlanta has decided to
be "dry," it is probable that
they also will join "the fresh
water league.
The growth of this movement
is, indeed, remarkable in Louis
lana, Mississippi and Texas as
well as Georgia. The Atlanta
election appears to have given
the prohibitionists new energy
and vigor, and they are buck
ling on their armor for battle.
More than a dozen elections on
the question are already set, and
petitions are being signed for as
many more. The contests are
more bitter and exciting than
ever, and both sides are rallying
all their forces.
The contests are no longer
confined to the country districts,
but include the towns as well.
Never until the Atlanta Tictory
had the prohibitionists succeed
ed in carrying a city. Not even
there did they wholly succeed,
for the town of Atlanta gave a
small majority against Prohibit
ton, and it was only by the
votes of the rural districts that
the latter was successful; bur the
vote in Atlanta was sufficiently
large to render it evident that
Prohibition is possible in cities ;
and we may expect to see simi-
lar contests follow.
The New York Sun of Thurs
day. III its leading editorial, says:
a0There. seems to be some appre-
hension among some Democrats,
as there is.R vivid hope among
Republicans, that a conflict will
be 'precipitated' somehow OF 9TH
er between the President and his
party during the next Congress.
The prophets of evil Think or
pretend to think, that the irrita-
ton against the President, OF
which there are sporadic local
symptoms, will break out viru-
lently when the hood-gates of
talk are opened at Washington
next month. Now, of course,
nobody can tell what the Presi-
dent may do OF what Congress
may do ; but II should be borne
III mind that love for cempeti-
tive examinations, unsatisfacto-
~ distribution of Offices and de-
lay in distributing them, are the
only causes of ofellse yet mani
fest IN Mr.. Cleveland. None of
these things is matter for the
Democrats iii Congress to make
q row about. The competitive
examinations are prescribed by
d statute which cannot now be
repealed, and the delay may be
d little disappointing, but soon
or or later, and on the whole.
pretty soon, the Offices will be.
iii Democratic hands and as to
the appointments already made,
it is absurd to suppose that any
body but Republicans wants to
be disagreeable about them.
Take out 4 few mngWump ap-
pointments, given for supposed
value received, and Mr.. Oleve-
lands appointments have been
Democratic. Ina few notable
instances the party would have.
H%EM = %WZ& IN $500 -