The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-05-13
4 Candidate INDICATED.

EDITOR CLARION: l. short time since / I
CHANGED to get hold OF a little paper, pub /
lished at Clinton, Miss, dated Feb. 2l |
SS5, and entitled the Sword and Shield" |
In its columns appears several sQuIbS |
from a Grenada correspondent, one OF
which propose to notice, to-wit: the one |
which alludes in a detracting manner TO
Dr. J. J. Gage.
From the publishers knowledge Of the /
Almanac, the character Of It's editorials |
and clippings, it would seem, that he was
gravely impressed with the idea that the |
name was sufficient to strike terror into the |
ranks Of the enemy without the aid OF /
brains. 1t is marvellous that such sheets |
should seek either to lead or manufacture |
public opinion upon any subject, much /
less giant Of such huge proportions as
king alcohol there is no accounting for |
freaks of fanaticism), but they all seem I
imbued with the egotism and self-impor- /
lance OF the fly, perched upon the horn Of
an OK, while passing along the road on |
hot July day, who in the endurance Of
his feelings exclaimed ''what dust zee kick |
IN" | wish it understood that / am no ad- !
voeate of his Royal Highness. That he is
a wizard of evil omen, no sane man will
question, but / do submit that efforts to
Clip his wings by local movements, whether
of State, county or municipal, for the last
forty years have not only failed to arrest
his progress, but have aggravated the evil
and added fuel to the fame, by constantly
Haunting the old flag, the horned spectres
and raw head and bloody bones of Intern
perance, into the faces Of the youth of our
land, thereby inducing them from sheer
curiosity to take their first drink.
To the Prohibitionists | would say, that
all such cross-road movements is as power
less for good, - an attempt TO stay the
storm by pitching straws against the wind.
But there il a remedy, and only one, not
born of fanaticism, greed, lust for power,
or thirst for uotorlety, but a universal.
national one. Let a movement be inaugu-
rated bv men OF brains, noble impulses and
patriotic motives, that will induce the
Government to prohibit, in toto, the impor-
tation, manufacture or sale of ard ent spirits
within her borders. You will then, and not
till then, have laid the ak al the root of the
evil aud the body will die without
struggle.
Men will drink whisky as long as it is
within their reach. which extends as far as
the broad limits of this land.
The objection i shat DIR. Gage is not
! fit to be made Superintendent of Public
| Eduestion, because forsooth his name APP
pears in nearly all the petitions to sell
| liquor in Grenada. Now it is neither
charitable ,christian-like or honest, to thus,
without valid reason, seek to sway the
temperance element of the State against
/ him upon such a frivilous pretext. Why
/ did not informant tell the whole truth, and
say that nineteen twenteths of the names OF
our ablest purest and best men appear along
/ side OF Dr.Gage,s? Whether this is the case
/ from a sense of duty, habit or inclination
we have no right 10 inquire. Saloon keep
( ing is legitimate calling and made so by
statute, hence there Is no reason why We
should multiply this over and render it
imperative aud void, by Withholding our
names from a petition, than TO refuse to
vote or levy a tax in support OF public ed
ueation; a Judge has no right to inject his
private opinions OF right or wrong into his
| decisions, but his duty is to execute the law
as he finds it.
| have known Dr.Gage intimately for over
| twenty wears, and |, as well as all who know
him, have ever found him the same high
toned, honorable gentleman,of no ordinary
/ ability In all the relations OF lite he has
always been guided by a high sense OF
duty, a steadfastness and fidelity TO prin-
ciple of which but few men can boast. AS
a Democrat he Is as true as steel, always
forward in the front ranks, battling for the
right. At the age of eighteen he assisted
in raising a company in Madison county fol
service in the Mexican War, and fought
calamity through that memorable conflict
In the Confederate service he commanded
with ability a company in the 18th Miss
Regiment until stricken down at the battle
of Shiloh, with an almost mortal wound
While quite young, without solicitation, he
was elected to the Legislature and more re
J Gently to the Senate of Mississippi. From
early manhood he has been more or les;
. connected with the cause of education in
various capacities. For years he has
served as Superintendent OF Education for
Grenada county, free from complaints
, The schools have been managed with sue
cessful address, and With tue most satisfae
,, tory results. So in seeking the position
fer which he aspires, he has schooling
: which qualities him for the more genera
duties. These are some OF the many rea
, sors why DIR. j. ] Gage should be mad.
Superintendent OF Public Education. Hs
Solicits The support OF his fellow citizens
{ not from any prefentious claim, not from !
sordid ambition or desire for notoriety
but simply from conscientious conviction
OF his fitness Tor the lace, the require
menfs OF his necessities, and as a meagr,
reward for forty long years of faithful
service In the party harness. SRSEx.