The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1886-04-01
AN. ADDRESS
To the Friends of Ptohlbition In
Mississippi.

=
journed, and left on our statute
bouks a local option law. Its pass
age will mark another epoch in the
history Of temperance reform in
Mississippi.A If in all respects il
does not fully meet the wishes OF
some ardent friends Of prohibition
10 the State, it is substantially what
we have demanded for the last tour
years in our annual conventions.
Adhering to our declared purpose TO
keep the movement disentangled
from party politics, We have appeal
ed TO the legislators without. regard
to political creed, to give the sover-
eign people the privilege Of deter
mining. by counties, whether or not
the matchless evil of the age shall
be tolerated in their midst. Our
appeal has been heard and such a
law has been enacted. Upon appli-
cation by petition signed by one
tenth of the qualified voters of any
county in the State, the Board OF
Supervisors shall order an election
to take place within forty days TO
determine whether or not any alco-
holic, spirituous, yinous, malt or in
toxicating liquors or bltters shall be
sold in said county. This election
cannot take place within two
months of any general cleo ton. BY
this provision, the question is elimi.
mated from any county or State pc
itical contest. If a county, by ma
jority vote, declares in favor Of the
sale, then before license to retail can
be granted to any applicant within
au Incorporated town or supervisors
district, he must present a petition
signed by twenty-five owners of real
estate within such municipality or
district. That petition must be
filed and lie over for thirty days to
await counter petitions. If within
that time counter petition signed
by majority of the qualified voters
of said Incorporated town or super
visor's district be presented, then
license shall not be granted. That
provision is eminently wise, and
whatever the result of the county
election, will of necessity secure the
protection of prohibition TO large
ma jorily of the towns within the
State. All places now under special
prohibitory laws, where chartered
manufactures and institutions of
learning are located, will remain IN
disturbed by this general law.
This, friends of prohibition, is our
position today !: we have eleven en-
tie counties in which the sale Of H.
quor is prohibited. In not one of
those counties can saloon be open
ed until majority of the legal vot-
ers at the ballot box shall give their
permission. With the growth Of
moral sentiment in said counties,
educated and strengthened by the
operation of prohibitorv law, we
expect to hold every one of them
firmly in the advancing column of
reform. We start out afresh in the
conflict with eleven counties and a
number of college and manulactur-
ing towns already secured. The
next few months will witness other
victories, as one county after
another shall express its convictions
at the polls. The issue is sharply
defined. Personalities are elimi-
mated, and the one question for the
people TO decide is, whisky or no
whisky. In such a contest is it
difficult TO forecast what the people
of Mississippi will do p? On which
side the line of public morals they
will stand ?
Our friends are multiplying and
the weak are becoming strong. The
little company Of few years ago
has become a great army. States
men and political leaders have
heard the distant thunder of the
trampliDg hosts. We are no longer
derided and denounced as fanatics
and inqnisitors, except by certain
ignorant stripe and stamp, and the
principles ON which we stand are
recognized as fundamental and
righteous as the throne Of God.
Prohibition is the watchword OF
moral reform. Around it public
opinion is steadily crystalizing
Communities and Swallowed homes
claim this as their surest protec,
tion.
The following suggestions are
made to our friends in the several
counties
LIST. Do not bring on the contest
precipitstely. Develope and organize
a sentiment before the issue is join.
ed. Arrange for a vigorous, vigi-