The Osceola times., 1886-08-21
PROHIBITION ALLIANCE.
ADDRESS OF Col. w. p. GRACE,
PRESIDENT OF THE PROHIBITION
ALLIANCE OF ARKANSAS.
To the Voters of Arkansas:

the Prohibition Alliance of the State
OF Arkansas, | have concluded to
issue this address; and ] do not think
it necessary to preface it with any
apology for SO doing, for the matter
to which | shall call your attention
concerns every good man and woman
in the State.
On the 9th day Of September next
we are te have general election IN
this State. AT that election the
Il" Liquor Saloon" will be a canii-
date in every county and township
for the votes of the people, and un-
tess a majority of the people voting
" for" or against" license in each
county and township shall vote
" for license then, by the law as it
now stands, it will be unlawful for
any one to sell liquor in that county
or township for the next two years.
The Legislature, under Democratic
rule, has placed the liquor traffic alb
solutely under the control Of the
voters ofeach county, and each town
ship in each county. If any county
is cursed with the presence of sa-
Icons; il the pnbiic peace is disturb
ed and the morals of the communi-
ty debauched by the liquor traffic, it
Is because majority of the electors
wish it to be so, or at least do not
will it to be otherwise. Under the
power given to the people by this
law, fully one half of the territory
of our State has been, and is to-day,
redeemed from the presence of the
saloon and of the liquor traffic gem
orally. Sixteen counties out of the
seventy-foar have driven the traffic
beyond their borders, and every 9TH
er county can do likewise at the ccm-
ing election if the voters so wish,
The temperance people of Arkan-
sas have great reason to feel encour-
aged. All parties seem to be ready
to assist in the overthrow Of the H.
quor traffic. For the Democratic
party it can be claimed that it has
given to the people our most excel
lent local option laws, by which, as
said above, the electors have abso-
lutte control of .he traffic in each po-
htical township every two years.
And this they have done without
making any professions Of friendship
for the temperance cause in their
platforms. That party has been in
power in this State for the last twelve
years and could do what they wish.
ed without let or. hindrancc. 1t is
fair to presume that the party which
has voluntarily made tie law will
not, as party, oppose the execution,
For the Republican and Wheel
parties it must be said that in thcil
late conventions they had the liquor
question under consideration, anc
that they took advanced ground Oh
the subject. Both conventions de.
clared that they were IN favor o.
submitting to a vote of the people 4
constitutional amendment by which
the manufacture and sale Of liquor
to be used as a beverage should b,
forbidden, A party occupying sucl
advanced ground as this, can certain
ly be relied upon to vote to banisE
the saloon, if any faith is to he plac
ed in the political uttcranccs o
parties.
In addition to the generally friend
ly feeling to the Prohibition cause 0
all political parties in Arkansas,
have good reason to believe that til,
honorable gentlemen who are nov
candidates for the Office OF Goyerno
personally wish that the people
should be careful to vote upon lh
liquor question at the coming elec
tion; and that it would be personally
gratifying to them if there was no
a saloon left standing in the State.
A word as to the duty of the pro
nounced temperance men aud wemel
of Arkansas from now until the cleo
ton is over; Everyone should b.
active among his or her neighbor
and by all fair means at his or he
command induce the voters To cas-
their ballots against license in thcl
respective townships. Much can b.
done in tins way by the exercise o
that silent influence which goo,
man or woman always has in th
community. Let active temperanc
workers attend the polls on the da,
OF election, and let the voters see tha
we have deep interest in defeatin;
the "license" question. or course
we may expect the liquor men to b
active and INSCRIPTIONS IN the futur
as they have been in the past, whcl
they thought that their trade was EN-
dangered. But should they resor
to unfair means, while such action OF
their par: may sorely try the patienc
OF the friends of temperance, still
they ought not 60 resort to Ike uh
fair means; for it would not only b
inconsistent but sinful to do wron.
aud then ask God to bless our etfurts
and the cause of temperance, to sue
ceed, must have the favor and aid O
God, for man unaided by religion
convictions is not equal to the tas'
Of redeeming himself from TIE drinI
habit.
have to request that the We
nrasil,nts and o,hpr active to,nnpr