The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-07-08


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The Prohibition State Convention.
Held in this city on July |, was all
that the most sanguine friends of this
cause could have asked. The trains in
all directions as early as Tuesday noon
commenced bring in The delegates, and
at zen o'clock Wednesday one of the
largest, most enthusiastic and most re-
spectacle conventions ever assembled in
Mississippi was called to order by Rev.
c. B. Galloway, d. D., the chairman of
the Executive Committee. AT his re-
quest the venerable Rev. r. Abbey, of
Yazoo City, opened the exercises with
fervent and earnest invocation of the
Divine blessing.
DR.. Galloway on vacating the chair
made few well-timed remarks outlin-
ing the policy of the Convention. Per-
manent organization was effected by
eleeting Hon. ]. B. Chrisman, Judge of
the tenth Judicial District, chairman;
J. H. Anderson, of Kosciusko, r. B.
Fulton, of Lafayette, Rev. III. j. Harris,
of Crystal Springs, Secretaries; 0. j.
Moore, of Montgomery, and Isaac Craw-
ford, of Holmes, Presidents. Judge
Chrisman made brief and telling ad-
dress upon taking the chair. Fifty-two
counties were represented, footing up
two hundred and seventy delegates pres
ent. All classes, and without regard
to race, color or previous condition,
callings, all creeds political and eccle-
siasHcal, sat down side by side, on
the floor of the house. The utmost
good humor and courtesy prevailed.
Not once was there any exhibition of an
improper spirit. Members differed wide
ly and conscientiously on some subjects,
and there was much eloquent and earn
est debate, but after the freest and full
est discussion had prevailed, every one
seemed willing to forego his own indi-
vidual opinion and to acquiesce in what
the majority decided was best for the
cause. 1t was very evident that but one
question was engaging the attention of
all present, and that was, "How can we
best promote the cause of Prohibition ?'
There was plainly disposition to avoid
any interference with any mans politics
or religion or condition or mode of life,
or manner of thinking, save upon one
subject alone, that of whisky. If a man
was right on that question it was not
any other They threatened no man,
they antagonized no man; they only
determined by the help of God "to set
down squarely" upon liquor dealing in
all its forms, now and forever. The
following was adopted as the
DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES.
We, the friends of the legal and con-
stitutional suppression of the liquor
traffic in the State OF Missls-
sippi, in State Convention assembled,
acknowledge with profound gratitude,
the steady, healthful, intelligent growth
of Prohibition within our great common
wealth. From small beginning few
wears ago our cause has become a
dominant moral sentiment in many
counties. The little company has
become mighty army. The cloud no
larger than mans hand has overcast
the heavens and rained its blessings large
" upon every community. This sue
| cess emboldens us to greater effort.
! The achievements of the past are a
prophecy of vet grander things in the
future. Wherever good prohibitory
| laws have been adopted, intemperance
has been suppressed and the cause of
sobriety and good government has been
signally advanced. Prohibition does
prohibit. Despite the prejudiced and
partisan utterances of papers that favor
| license and the saloons, the history of
| Prohibition is an unanswerable argu-
ment in favor Of its efficiency. We only
ask that prohibitory laws be admins
tered with equal fidelity and impartiali-
| tv of other statutes, to secure commune
ties their beneficial protection.
In view of the foregoing we affirm the
| following:
1st. 1t is the duty of al! good citizens,
| irrespective of all political parties,
| religious creeds, race or color, to
promote in all possible ways the peace,
order and prosperity of all the peo-
pie.
End. We affirm that Prohibition
proposes TO deal with the liquor
traffic and not with the liberty of
/ individuals: that society is forced to
traffic by its prohibition.
3rd. The importation, supply and
sale of alcoholic beverages authorized
| and sustained by the laws of the State
are everywhere shown TO be the pro-
| noting causes of fintemperance, resulting
in crime and pauperism, ignorance and
Incidence endangering the public peace,
corrupting politics, legislation and
administration of laws
4th. 1t is the purpose of this organi-
cation to restrict the sale of intoxicating
! liquors within the State of Missis
lsippi to the utmost of our ability
i by all possible moral and legal means
| We therefore recommend all the friends
of temperance to seek diligently the
promotion of a stronger temperance
sentiment in their respective localities
i and that our citizens avail themselves
of the peculiar provisions of our present
prohibitory statutes by refusing to sign
i their names to whisky petitions, By
diligently circulating counter petitions
and BY giving special attention to the
sn fficiency of all bonds of retail liquor
dealers and the faithful administration
of our liquor laws.
Il 9Th. We favor the passage of i
Il general local option law, BY coun
: ties, and we pledge ourselves to nevel
cease our efforts till the right b,
Il accorded 10 the people to decide by vot,
whether the matchless evil of the ag,
I shall be vended in their midst, sait
law not to impair In any way existin,
, statutes.
!, 9th. We further declare it TO be ou
/ | conviction that the cause OF prohibition
j should not be entangled with part,
! politics. Without disturbing the part,
affiliations of any citizen, We ask hi
support of this great reform, which
J | should be sacredIy enthroned above th
, contests for u1pr{. p1ace and nower w