The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1886-03-31
Address Of state Prohibition Exec
utive Committee

Alta meeting of the State Prohibition
Executive Committee, held in this city ON
Thursday night. 18th inst, the following
address, prepared by Rev. DR.. G. B. Gal !
oway, and read by him, was adopted:
To the friends Of Prohibition ia Mississippi
The Legislature has met and adjourned !
and left on our statnte-books local option
law It's passage will mark another epoch
in the history OF temperance reform in
IL in all respects il does not
fully meet the wishes Of some ardent
friends OF prohibition in the State, it IS
what we have demanded for
the last four years in our annual Conven-
tons Adhering to our declared purpose
to keep the movement disentanglsd from
party politics, We have appealed to the
legislators without regard to political
creed, to give the sovereign people the
privilege OF determining, by counties,
whether or not the matchless evil OF the
age shall be tolerated in their midst. Oar /
appeal has been heard, and such a law has |
been enacted. Upon application by petit
ton signed by one-tenth of the qualif ed |
voters Of any county in the State. the
Board OF Supervisors shall order an cleo
ton 10 take place within forty days TO
determine whether or not any alcoholic,
spirituous vinous, malt or intoxicating
liquors or bitters shall be sold IN said
county This election cannot take place
within two months Of any general election.
By this provision, the question is elimi-
mated from any county or State political
contest. If a county, by majority vote,
| declares in favor OF the sale, then before
| license to retail can be granted to any
/ applicant within an 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 AID
| lie over for thirty days to await counter
| petitions. II within that time n counter
petition, signed by majority Of the quail
fled voters OF said Incorporated town or
supervisors district be presented, then
license shall not be granted. That pro-
vision is eminently wise and whatever the
| result of the county election, will Of neces-
sity secure the protection OF prohibition to
large majority Of the towns within the
State All places now under special pro
hibi.ory laws, where chartered manufac-
turtles and institutions OF learning are
located, win remain undisturbed by this
general law.
This, friends of prohibition, is our posi-
ton to-day we have eleven entire counties
in which the sale Of liquor is prohibited
In not one of those counties can saloon
be opened until majority OF the legal
voters at the ballot-box shall give their
permission. With the growth of moral
sentiment in said counties, educated and
, Strengthened by the opinion of prohibi
tory law, We expect to hold every one Of
: them firmly in the advancing column o.
, reform. We start out afresh in the con
fiict with eleven counties and number o.
, college and manufacturing towns already
secured The next few months will wit
ness other victories, as one county aftel
another shall express its convictions at the
: polls. The issue is sharply defined. Per
sonalities are eliminated, aud the one qucs
: ton for the people to decide is, whisky o
I no whisky. In such contest is it Difficult
: to forecast what the people Of Mississippi
' will do? On which side the line OF publi
e morals will they stand?
= Our friends are multiplying and The veal
0 are becoming strong. The little compan
q of few years ago has become a grea
army. Statesmen and political leader
: have heard the distant thunder of TN
|, trampling hosts. We are no longer dc
d rided aud denounced as fanatics and III
S quisitors, except by certain ignorau
It stripe and stamp, and the principles o
y which we stand are recognized as fundg
h mental, and righteous as the throne of Goo
e Prohibition is the watchword OF moral RI
e FORM Around it public opinion is stef di
u ly crystalizing. Communities aud shadow
y ed homes claim this as their surest protet
ID ton.
D The following suggestions are made I
our friends in the several counties:
he LIST. Do not bring on the contest precip
le lately. Develop and organize a sentmei
$ before the issue is joined. Arrange *
ID vigorous, vigilant, aggressive can
+ paign.
O. ID. Perfect your organizations in eaC
ID county Let there be we'll selected count
y executive committees, with a representa-,
Of from each school district. Appoint !
N man to compliment him, but because of h
es force aud fitness. Invite the cooperate
E. of the Woman's Christian Temperan
al Union With their unions organized
a each neighborhood we will have efiiciei
at co-laborers.
~ 3d. Avoid personal or political contr
IN versies. We have no enemies to punis
re Our mission is to win friends and SHE
MT the sorrowing. Let nothing discount Il
ne purity of our purpose, or beguile us fro
ne our only and holy mission. We are NOR
Isl reformers, and not regulators or polite
Do doctrinails.
to 4th. Sow down each county with Who'll
ed some temperance literature. Thus we wi
tie educate mind and conscience. We mu
O. induce the people to think in order to &
e. them to intelligently act. Agitation bege
We consideration, and that is the life OF re
b. reform.
IA 9th. Let special attention be give
an toward assisting the colored people
,ir their temperance organizations. We ne,
Cd their hearty cooperation their sufcril
he condition appeals to our patriotic eonside
ID. alton. Whisky is the greatest enemy
se their elevation. They can never be ful
OF emancipated until every open saloon
u Theoretically sealed. Their church organ
ng izations have spoken with no uncerta
We sound. In the great contest at Atlanta
at majority of the colored people voted +
he prohibition A like loyalty to their chur,
OF vows we may expect in Mississippi
will be an honor to the race lately enfra
re chised, if by their ballots, they shall wa
es. the flag of freedom over the empire of ru
cir and ruin.
a Friends of temperance reform, ours is
ms great opportunity. We have "come
lie, the kingdom for such time as thi:
lot And this opportunity is the measure
our responsibility. Every friend of FIRE
ON dom must be up and doing. No soldi
IN can afford to slumber on his post. III {
We contest in each county is managed d
it creetly there is little doubt but that-thrt
cir fourths of them will declare for prohil
ry- ton within the next eighteen montl
ill There must be no divided counsels. L
Ely the ranks close up and every comra
9TH prove hero.
ent CHAs. B. GALLOWAY,
T. fvhntr Gfota ProN