Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-09-18
ndsr the Auspices Of the Good Templars.
Prohibition in Mississippi.


The local option law given Mississip-
pi last March, is not what Prohibition
it's desire, but tits the best we could
get from a liquor Legislature. The
Local Option law has been the means
Of hufrying prohibition agitation.
When elections are called in the coun-
ties, thirty days usually precede elec-
tioA day. During this time the cam
paign in conducted.with all the strength
th.t can be brought to bear by the pro-
hibitionists and the saloon men. More
temperance education is given, the
masses during those important days
than would ordinarily be given in years.
The greatest objection to the Local OPP
ton law is that it leave the question Of
sale or no sale, " to the vote of the peo-
pie. Three-iourths OF the population
Mississippi are negroes. This great
mass is almost solid for the saloons.
eince 1875 the Democratic primaries
have succeeded in keeping the
negro from voting. He had grown
accustomed to being the "silent broth
er in black" When the hquor advo-
cate saw that without the negro vote,
the saloons would be swept from Miss
issippi, they determined to manipulate
the negro for all he was worth. in the
prohibition ranks we have men who
from their youth up have been Demo
Gratis. When they look on and see the
uses being made ofthe negro, they do
not know exactly where to stand or by
what party name to call themselves.
The country people in some OF the
counties, comprising both whiskey and
prohibition iuen, have upon several oc-
casions petitioned the leaders of the two
movements, vhiskey and prohibition
to leave the question of "sale or no
sale" to the white vote. She has always
been grantediby the prohibition people,
but decidedly.-r refused by the liquor
traffic. .t.as t45ae p
The liquor advocates have duped the
negroes by many artful statements.
| Race prejudice has been excited and
negro has been utterly demoralized.
Politics and not farming is now the
craze, having once had access to the
ballot, they mean to keep it if possible
To them whiskey:is the elixir Ct new
life because they deem it the cause Of
opening the polls to them. Now if the
negros knew how to use the ballot fol
nosai government, there might t., nc
reason for CONSERVATION in the mind:
of prudent people, but here the negro
as a voter. is ss dangerous as a drunken
man with revolver, or child in hay
| loft with FIRE brand. He does not
have conception OF pure government
nor care whether his vote opens the
food gate of drunkenness and de.
bauchery. When the Local Option cleo
ton were first held county after coun.
ty voted "wet" by the negro majority
Things began to look ominous with the
white people in the majority against
the saloon, and the negro population in
the majority for it. Prohibtionists be-
came aroused to desperation. They
flooded their counties with letters say
ing whiskey should not be kept BY
black votes, that homes were at stake
: and men were ready to protect them
, Good results came speedily. Negroe.
did not vote solidly, as had been tn
|, customed. Kinds county, in which
: the capitol, Lincoln, Lee and Choctav
in one week voted "dry," because tht
l voice of the white man ruled.
: The effect of this has been to max
liquor men cling more desperately I
: the negro, for they are convinced tina
the saloon is dead if left to the whit
: vote. fo Mrs. NJ. G. SUELL.
Columbus, Miss.