Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1885-05-02
1AsSR{EsR BfVSz
&NyNzrs. ...a. SSE
The Dis-SOcIatiOn Of Liquor and Our
Public Schools.

Many have written ably for your
columns on various points touching
the great question Of the hour in our
State and the whole nation. hoped
that your learn,u and instruc-
tive correspondent x. Y. 4.
should handle this phase of the Pub
lie School question With his marked
ability.
Failing to see anything from him,
| still hoped that some other older
and wiser head would deal with the
subject as it deserves. As this has
not yet been done, | undertake it in
the name of the Lord.
Many wonder that our Public
Schools, as a whole with a few eX-
ceptions) are accomplishing 50 little
toward the mental and moral deycl-
opment Of our youth. The answer
is easy to him who believes that a
sacrifice of wickedness is an abom-
nation to the Lord, = and that God
rules the affairs of nations so as not
to allow the final and full success Of
any enterprise that is stained with
''blood-money." The very small
per cent. Of our school fund that is
derived from the license system
about enough to give an average Of
nearly one week. schooling to each
child-is still enough to deserve and
bring down the curse Of heaven.
Therefore, as a lover Of the young
and an advocate Of all good educa-
ton, | plead in behalf Of cur Public
Schools, that they be no longer
doomed to so destructive analliance.
Again, as Prohibitionist | believe
it all-important TO the successful car
rying out Of our favorite measure
Local Option by counties that our
next legislature shall dissolve this
cruel partnership once and forever
Where the idea ever originated that
innocent children shall be educated
by the debauchery Of their parents
and elder brothers, is difficult to DIS
Germ. In our own State it was
doubtless conceived in the iniqui-
tous back parlor Of a saloon, brought
forth by adventurous demagogues,
and shapen by Radical legislature.
In the general purgation Of our
later Democratic rule, this pot house
politician has been strangely over
looked, and allowed to rest as blot
on the fair page Of our progressive
history. But such need not much
longer be the case. Let us "haye it
forth Of the ranges. Those who
have done any work in the line of
Local Option have doubtless all been
met by the very fimsy excuse
against Prohibition, that it will
break up our Public Schools. We
who know how very little does
really come from that source, are
prone to give too little attention to
this sophism. Believe me, friends,
it is the most powerful engine WELD
ed by the liquor interest for the per
petuation Of the ''matchless evil"
Among ignorant voters Of either
color it is a very effective, though
false argument. Then for the good
of the schools, for the honor Of our
State, for the success of Local Option,
let us put it away forever. Let what
little may yet reach the treasury, as
the price Of blood, go just where it
belongs Gf fanywhere) to the suppress
sion of crime. If need be, levy an
additional school fax corresponding
to the meager amount transferred,
or considerably larger. Let things
go where they belong! This point
should not fail to be sharply looked
after by our Convention and by all
who desire genuine success in Pro
hibition and a clean statute book.
Tho good cause moves on wei. in
Jefferson county.
J. ?. DRAKE.