The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-12-02
Political Declarations.

The present administration of the
United States has lately appointed the
eminent minister, Rev. ]. L. NJ. Curry,
d. ID. as the representative of our govern
ment at the court of Spain. The ap
pointment, which all who know DR..
Curry will agree, is most excellent one,
has been extensively criticised by lead
ing Republican papers, A most uncalled
for and unjust and rabid partisan
criticism appeared in the n. Y.
Tribune (Republican.) This was justly
repelled by the Courier journal of Oct.
26. The Courier journal says: 1t the
Tribune forgets in its loyalty to party.
its loyalty to American institutions"
That is a charge, the sentiment of which
finds a response in the heart of every
true American, and is no doubt justly
made in this case. But the same
charge may now be made against almost
all of the leading Democratic papers of
this country in one Particular, and that
the nose important particular in poll
itics-the traffic in strong drink. In
their devotion to party, the leading
papers of the party bid so strongly for the
whisky vote that they forget LOYALTY to
American institutions. For AS Edward
Everett Hale saws QUOTED in the same
issue of the Courier -Joa;rnaD: ga re
publican government is a government
of the people, for the people,
and by the people. An olisarchy
is a government of the people,
for the higher classes, and by the higher
classes" American institutions are d
rectly opposed to olgarchies, and yet
The leading Democratic papers, in their
devo, ion. to the5party and in their efforts
TO keep their party in power, are build
ing up a most dangerous oligarchy.
In its platfoi m Of principals the Dem
ocratic party of Mississippi declares for
mo special legislation for the benefit of
the few at the expense of many" and yet
in order to perpetuate its power it allows
to remain on the statute books of the
State. law licensing 900 whisky sellers
to prosecute their work OF numbering
men through their appetites at the ex
pense of the "mauy" honest, norable
and law abiding citizens, thus encourag
ing crime and participating in its spoils.
The National Democratic party de
clares itself against monopolles aud rings
(nr words to that effect) and the
Courier Journal of Oct. 26, says: "The
Administration will draw the claws OF
the most dangerous monopolies which
have heretofore directed the policy of
the departments, and in this way it will
work the overthrow of the Republican
party. But while claiming to do this
the Administration is bound to keep
silent and even bow down and lick the
feet of "the most dangerous" and cor
rupting monopoly of America. This
monopoly is steadily gaining in power,
is thoroughly organized, is determined
and aggressive, and today defies the
National Government and the various
State Legislatures to pass laws to sup
press it 1t is not the majority and does
not control the majority of votes in
any State or in the nation, but in many
8 ates North and South it holds a
'balance of power" and neither
p ,rty can succeed without making con
cessions to it. 1t dictated the ''sumptu
ary law plank to the national Demo,
cracy, and it is shameful and pitiful and
disgusting co see how the politicians Of
some of the States got down upon their
knees to this vile monopoly this fall.
All other monopolies, which have refer
ence to useful articles of trade, are to
have their claws extracted by the
Administration, but this monopoly,
dealing in a deadly and corrupting
poison which spreads misery and squalor
and wretchedness in its wake, is to be
protected in its deadly work because the
Administration must have its vote to
keep in power.
Although 'sumptuary laws" canno'
possibly cover laws prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of whisky, for
that could be suppressed just as an,
other form of murder and crime with
out any sumptuGry lar, yet it is generally
understood that this ambiguous sumptu
ary law plank meant opposion to pro
hibitory laws. That is an evidence OF
the low, sneaking policy of this whisky
monopoly. Why not say in manly
way: I'VE are opposed to prohibitory
laws" and thus wipe out all statute
prohibiting crime? The moral sense OF
the nation would have been shocked a
that. Then why not say, eve are opposed
to the suppression of the whisky trade?
That would have been open defiance to-
the strong temperance element in tn.
party. So it declared against ''sumptu
ary laws, which interfere with persona
liberty and vex the citizen" which the
whisky element had inserted and whi.f
meant protection to them. The writer
most heartily indorses the Democratic
platform, even the "sumptuary law
plank, and the expressions quoted above
from Democratic exponents, but with
equal earnestness claims that there
ought to be no exception made in favor
of one monopoly, nor special legisla
ton" for one set of men Eat the expense
of many" In making this exception
the real principles of Democracy have
been forsaken. Time will reveal con
s.antly increasing difficulty in reconcil
ing the anti whisky and whisky elements
in our politics. Will our leaders stand
with our homes, or with the monopoly
which fills our homes with shame and
misery l.. S. FOSTER.
Lee, Mississippi.