The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-08-19

II - very gratifying 10 report that
the cause u Temperance is decidedly
on rising groBna in the State Capital.
The publication will doubtless inspirit
the laborers in the good cause in other
localities 20 continued devotion to duty.
The pers0n who secured from the
Mayor and Aldermen the last license to
retail viuous and spirituous liquors,
beer or cider, remarked that he thought
that his petition would be the last one
which would ever 20 through, 50 much
stronger had he found the opposition 70
liquor selling 10 have grown. 1t really
seems As II lie would be a tr1e prophet
One license has expired since his was
granted and though it was the intention
Of the proprietor b continue business,
yet bis house has been closed and is
likely % remain 50. Another saloon
keeper, who kept one Of the most popu-
lar resorts IN town, has allowed his
license to expire and has made no effort
10 renew it; says that he never expects
to engage in the business any more.
Still another saloon man sent word to
several members Of the citizens COM
mittee for the suppression Of the liquor
traiEc, t-rtis hey would just let him
.Lsoue leFE present license expired.
he would not trouble them any more.
This change Of purpose, and, in one
known case, Of the sentiments of the
saloon keepers, is due to the tone of public
sentiment which has been steadily grow
ing and which has been more Outspoken
against the federation OF saloons. The
better class of citizens have concluded
that they have permitted the whisky
ring to control the town about long
enough, and they are making a quiet but
determined effort to throw off their
domination, and to cause the will and
preferences of the advocates Of sobriety
and humanity TO have sway. A com
mittee of gentlemen are quietly circu-
lating counter-petitions against whisky
and are procuring signatures slowly, but
steadily and surely.
The members Of the Womans Chris
/ tian Temperance Union at their last
meeting determined that they would
enter the petition field, and each mem
Der on a given day would betake herself
/ To procuring signatures and continue
diligently until the whole city was can
yassed. In other places women have
| been more successful than men in pro-
curing signatures, and it is firmly be-
lieved that here in Jackson every thing
is prepared for their success. Let them
have the hearty cooperation of every
chiyalrous citizen in this their sacred
crusade against drunkenness and crime.
Perhaps the most hopeful movement
OF all Is that mentioned in the other
department of this paper, a few weeks
ago, when a number of the most infu-
ential citizens of the town met and con
stituted themselves into a committee fol
the express purpose of enforcing the
statutes relating to whisky selling. These
statutes are about as favorable as could
be expected for the present, but fol
want of some one whose business it is tc
see the laws enforced, they have been a
dead letter. When true bills have been
found by grand juries, district attorney.
have been in the habit Of compromising
the cases for a nominal sum. 1t Is
stated as a positive truth that one saloon
keeper never took out license at all
but found it actually cheaper to pay the
fines imposed by the court than tc
advance the amount prescribed for
license.
Again, the statutes forbid the selling
of liquor on Sunday, or to minors upon
! any day, and provide that violatOrs Oi
these laws shall, upon presentation to the
proper authorities, and upon conviction
be deprived of their license. But TEe
dafaat -, tho stat..s~~ - InSB AZ 10 zsyi
made the duty of any one to report these
violations, so that although it is notori
} Gus that they are continually occurring
no notice is taken of them. 1t is tC
} remedy these defects, and to see that the
| penalties shall be duly inflicted, thai
, this committee was constituted, and the
numbers Of names signed to the docu
ment is increasing. The committee EN-
, ployed the very best legal talent. They
r declined 10 accept the voluntary labo
t of the lawyers, but appointed a sub
] committee to make a regular busines
+ contract for legal service. The attor
z ney will be bound by pecuniary obliga
q ton, and by his oath of office, to b.
+ faithful to the interests of his clients.
e While the foregoing facts are yer,
e encouraging, they should by no mean
{ be permitted to cause the relaxation o
t effort upon the part of any one. Oh
!, the contrary, just as the prospect o
: delivering Mississippi's fair Capital iron
9 the curse of the saloon, grows brighter
i so let enthusiasm be kindled and dill
:, gent, judicious effort be increased.