The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-11
Prohibition in Georgia.

EDIIoR CL.RIoN: Your readers would
probably like to know something of how
prohibition works in Georgia where lie
out of 13S counties have adopted it.
have taken some pains to learn the facts
in the case. First, let ME say that all
the talk about the ruin of trade by pro
hibtion is the groundless prophecy ol
its foes. The effect of prohibition upon
the prosperity of communities, cannot
be Judged in year. Not less than five
years would furnish ground for reliable
judgment. In the case of Atlanta, fol
instance, where prohibitory law went
into effect on the first of July, some are
already declaring that it has injured
trade and is retarding the prosperity of
the city. The whisky trade is of course
broken up. THAI was intended aud
expected. But the money which would
have bought drains has been spent for
more useful things. Order and sober in
dustry prevail Good houses are hard
to be found for rel t. And right in the
face of approaching prohibition, 297
h fuses were begun and completed in the
city during the first six months of this
year, while only 240 were built during
the same period last year.
In Athens, an important commercial
and manufacturing city, where no drains
| have been sold for a year. everybody Is
pleased with the law. Recently more
than six thousand negroes from neigh
boring cities and the country round
were gathered in Athens to witness a
| 6remen's parade and contest for pre-
miums. Not an arrest for disorder oc-
Cured during the day Intelligent cit
liens said to me that from forty to one
hundred arrests might have been expect
ed on a similar occasion, when dram
shops were open in the town.
Two commencenents of the Univer-
| sity of the State, which is located here,
have passed off with unprecedented
outlines and order since the saloons we're
closed. A grocery merchant stated that
! his Saturday nights trade has been
doubled under the new order of things
Those once opposed to prohibition are
converted by its good effects. The worst
man in the city is said to have left it on
account of the new law, and all the
city and country around rejoice in the
peaceful fruits of prohibition.
| The city of Carrolton has tried pro-
hibition for ten years, aud can show
somewhat of its effects. When license
to retail was first refused by the ordi-
nary, the town had but twelve Business
houses In it, now it has thirty six, and
all the interests of the place have in
creased correspondingly. The county
was commonly styled in former days the
Free State of Carroll" op account of its
rowdyism and drum kenness; now it is
one OF the most orderly and prosperous
counties ia the State.
might multiply instances similar to
the above to almost any extent, but it is
needless. Let it suffice to say that Geor-
GA rejoices in the closing of the saloons.
Atlanta did the noblest thing for her
self, the State and the world, when she
said she would no longer help to make
drunkards of her citizens. Should she
cease to prosper it will not be for lack of
whisky. A good principle judiciously
applied, can never work general or per-
manent evil. The saloon is bad thing
It Is self-evidently bad. Candid and
honest patriots are determined to Danish
It. Wherever prohibition has been tried
It works we'll. Let every place try it. If
any place should fail to like it, that place
can return to whisky. IF any shall re-
turn TO 1t, that return will be as the re
turn OF the SOW that was washed to her
wailowing in the mire. We do not ex
pect such returns in this enlightened
day. l have strong hope that Missis-
sippl will continue, as she has begun. to
Tree herself from her greatest curse, and
rat the county of Kinds, and the civ
OF jackson, will at an early day be num-
bered among the leaders of the grandest
reform movement of our day.
W. l. G. HUNNTcUTT.