West Virginia freeman. (Parkersburg, W. Va.) 1881-1886, 1886-02-10
On THE SOUTHERN FIELD
A Prohibition Outpost In Tenpes.
see.
PROF. A. A. HOPKINS LETTER
CHATTANOOGA, TENN. J
Jan. 26, 1886. I

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn,
Jan. 26, 1885.
A night and days run from Jacksonvi,,.
through Georgia and you come to Chstta
nooga, OF wonderful war memories, Ana
here find a real Prohibition party outpost
where ii was hardly looked for. Here Probf
bitionists have aggressively stepped form
from old party lines and set up political
housekeeping for thems elves. This, too
while the State party organization is vet n
embryo, and while there is, as in Georgia
peculiar sensitiveness on the question NJ
party methods all over the State. In soma
respects the situation in Tennessee is mn
changed from last year, when I wrote OF n
Then Temperance men were striving tn
obtain the submission of Prohibitory
Amendment; and they feared sny Probi
bitiou party talk would ipjure its chance.
before tn e. Legislature. They were afraid n
might suffer even from the presen ce in the;,
state, and particularly In their capital az"
of the man Tor whom 5000 Of them ca.t !, w.
= residedtial ballots III 1854. So | made nn
Tennessee appointments for Gov. St. John
save in Chattanooga and Mem phis Now
with the Amendment once submitted, the
chief hope appears to center in securing sub
mission thereof second time and essential
to this, it is thought, is the election of an.
Other Legislature favorably pledged. Hence
AGAIN thS Wo,d "Party" affrig hts and soms
good men vino y ant the good new party very
bad, stand on ii p-ts, e and say Hush" They
have said it to me by lie ter, and l have
listened and smiled. .'ney, WIN presently
4SNh
sober.
For do respect these men. / would not
appear to hold lightly even thei, Tears |
would not lay one straw in the way OF the
Amendment which they seek. All the A. me
do l believe those 5000 st. John voters e'-
titled to their party opportunities; all the
same am sure that they should insist upon
these to the fullest extent. / would not have
them unwarran,ably assertive. But they
should as -ert their political self-respect
Such appears to be the feeling of Chatta
Nod
local Prohibition ticket straight, and who
now constitute the organized Prohibition
mittee which has hesitated to execute. |
have met their leaders, and like their un-
compromising speech. Said one of them, a
lawyer, MIR. John Il Dean:
~ 1 am All old Democrat, but care no more
for my Democratic party. [ shall stand and
vote for Prohibition and Proh1bitionlstS
henceforth, If stand alone"
He was rebel soldier, was Signal officer
little back of Lookout Mountain when our
Boys in Blue found glory on its crown.
81 want the state Prohtbitl"n party in
working shape, "sald anotber-M H. Cosby
builder-"for l shall never vote the old
ticket again national, State or municipal l
will strike hands hereafter with any man
for straight Prohibition, without any corr
promise of any sort"
He commanded one of the Confederate regi-
ments which fought Hooker aud defended
Mission Ridge. 1t is good thus to hear these
men talk who once were in rms against US
And right here in this little town of twenty
thousand, where Democrat AID Republican
are combating each other year by year, while
the victory of either gives power and per.
petuity to the saloon; here under the SHADOW
of Lookout and its unfrlling reminders; men
who fought each other on S CORY side, for
all their IL anhoOd was worth; men of the
Blue and # the Grey, now clasp hands
within their young Prohibition party, and
have pledged their manhood to stand
forevermore in solid assault upon the
stronghold of the saloon.
There is a very Large Prohibition element
In Tennessee, and the prospect of carrying
full. Indeed, regard it more hopeful than
submission. To submit the second time, re-
quires two-thirds legislative vote, while
before bare majority sufficed. VIII the
liquor traffic allow that vote? Is there much
reason to rely on the good faith of even
pledged Legislature, concerning this ques'
ton, when every Legislature is interested in
many things of partisan alliance which
may be moved upon mysteriously if not
openly by the liquor power? The Republ
make Democrats cautious. The liquor men
are stroug enough at Washington make
Democratic Prohibitionists weak in Nash
Vile. l have little faith in Legislative
p edges, where partisan necessity may be
great.
These Chattanooga men feel the same
way. They report similar feeling more wide
spread throughout the State than supposed.
And Mr.. Walter Thomas Mills, occurring re
preventative of the Voice, who has beeg here
three nights, and who has spoken in two or
three other places, brings like news. 1t
isn't probable that the party idea can be
long kept down.
l heard Mr.. Mills Sunday afternoon and
last night. He spoke in the Court House, 10
a rair audience, both times. His closing ad-
dress was one Of the ablest clearest, strong
est arguments on '"rhe necessity of a New
Party" to which l ever listened. 1t could
offend no one. 1t could not fail to convince.
1t ought to be delivered in every town where
the need of d new party is denied.
We had GOOD joke on Brother Mills sun
day afternoon. He will forgive me for tell
ing 1t because he Keenly appreciated II 100
The courtroom was to be occupied at p H.
that day, by Il colored congregation; and the
colo ed preacher and some of his hocH,
came at 2, for the Temperance meeting al
vertised. Very properly, the 'mmlItee III
and introduce Mir. Mills, and the preacher
declined! He didn't know the gentleman,
he said, and didn't want to introduce ana
endorse a speaker unknown to him Ratn'
er particular surely, but honest, let US pe-
Heve.
suspect if some Northern preacher had
been equally particular always. our Temper
ance platform might have escaped unWortnS
occupants, aud our worthy cause Woulo NV
have suffered so much from unwtse adVoca
cy. 1t is the misfortune OF reform that inen
will and do espouSe it for improper reason
or for reasons good without character 10 sus
tain them. There ought to be some recos
nized Lecture Source-our Bureau coiAoff
near the idea-by which men and WomehU.
adequate ability and sure standing, can op
duly credited for the work tne'
would perform. When the Lake Blum con
ference by TT solution, advised That no leG
turerS be employed, In any state, noI ee .aa
ing commission or credential from tl,
State or National Committee, wise Jrdglne s
dictated that action. More and more,
our movement goes on and grows su ou
Bureau will accept no volunteers, ana ein
plOy no special speakers, W no do not furlilfnn