Sword and shield. (Clinton, Miss.) 1885-1888, 1886-05-01
PROHIBITION IN ITAWAMBA
COUNTY.

In this ShadOWy, obscure region, amid
this lovely disentegrated element of hu-
man society happy event ever and anon
promises brighter future for North
east Mississippi
J. Fl. GAMBRELL AT FULTON.
1t had been announced by posted bills
and through the columns of the Report
er, our county paper, that the Secretary
and Financial Agent of the Prohibition
Executive Committee, Rev. j. III. Gam
brell, would address the citizens of our
dry town" and "dIy county as well, on
the evening of the 18th. The morning
was unpropituous; it rained the greater
portion of the day, preventing the coun-
try people from coming to town.
Toward nightfall the inquiry became
common on the street: DO you reckon
Mr.. Gambrell will Gomez The arrival
of the mail-hack, which to Fulton's
shame is seldom dry" even in clear
weather, about sunset settled
the question. The speaker arrived
and in less than five minutes the bell
was ringing at the Methodist Church, at
which summons respectable audience,
notwithstanding the muddy streets and
drizzling rain was seen assembled anxious
to hear
HON. DAVID JOHNSON,
the tall pine of the free State" TIA
wamba's faVOrite son, whom our late
Legislature saw fit to honor with the re-
sponsible position of Superintendent of
the penitentiary, came forward with a
short, earnest and appropriate Prohibi-
tion speech, an appropriate prelude to the
interesting address which awaited the
assembly, and introduced the orator of
the occasion.
THE THREE LECTURES
So little has been said by the secular
press of the State about Mr.. GambreH
our people were somewhat surprised at
arguments, logic and eloquenee eyinced
by the three speeches delivered, the
best of which was that Of Sunday at IL
o'clock a. IN. ! OF shis address have 4
heard several gentlemen, Of large ex-
perience say, since FIR Gambrell's de-
parture: 1T was the best thing | ever
heard upon the subject. Would that
had time and space to allude in detail
to the arguments and illustrations en-
ployed Suffice it to say, it was grand
treat, and has left a hallowed impress
upon our town and county. Everything
considered, our people responded nobly
to the call for financial aid in the Pro-
hibition cause.
We are all anxious to have Mr. Gam
brell come again.
OUR POSITION.
In justice to Itawamba county will
say that notwithstanding its citizens are
mainly poorand uncultured they possess
that which is better, honest, earnest fix
edness of principle. In nothing is such
nobleness and moral courage more
grandly displayed than their determined
resistance of the whisky traffic. Itisno
surprise that people of better opportuni-
ties, literary people, people that abide in
the wake of the ship of reform and amid
the exalting influences of the grand and
noble reformers of the age should be
found fighting this Appollyon. but here
are an obscure, uneducated people with
but few of the advantages of which cul-
ture, morality and religion boast; stand
ing as firm as the Rock of ages;
making a record for themselves on the
'grandest question of the age" which
may well put to blush that of localities
possessing infinitely better opportunities.
Her record is more astonishing when We
consider the fact that what she has done
has been accomplished without a solita-
ry Temperance organization But some
one is ready to ask what has your
county done?" In the first place, she
rid her county town Of the whisky fend.
In the next place, she has continued
the fight until every 'doggery we beg
the pardon of every honest cur for using
the name, hoggery would be better-has
been closed; and, last, but not least, we
have vanquished the swarm of wild
cats that had their dens on the Ala
bama line east of us, to make inrOads
upon us when honest, sober people were
all asleep.
In conclusion, permit me to say that
no county in Mississippi can boast of a
braver band Of Prohibitionists than It
awamba county. Our only need is or
ganization. Our men need some such
organizer as Brother Gambrell, and our
women are waiting and praying for .
visit from Sister Erwin.
ST.
Fulton, Miss, April q, 1886.