The Magnolia gazette., 1888-04-28
scIentilo Temperanoe In.truotIon.
ENrrRrRIsE. Misc. Anril l9. ls


To the Editor of Tho Meridian News;
! Since the publication OF tho Governor
veto of tue scientific instruc lion bill.
has been my purpose TO submit 10 lh
, public some reasons in support OF ih
measure. The delay is owing to the fac
that did not succeed in getting u cop.
Of the bill as it passed both houses unit
yesterday.
1t is we'll known that this was cher
ished scheme Of tho w. O. I. T.. of th,
State, who obtained large petitions Iol
its passage.iu addition TO statistics, data
ETC., which were placed in the hands oi
tho Senator and Representative to whom
these honored ladies entrusted their bill.
The petitinns contained tho namos Of
many OF the most noble women. eminent
Christian diylnes ard houored citizens Of
the state Of Mississippi. The statistics
and other data demonstrated that sims
liar me isuro was already the law In TWEEN
ty three States, and had been enacted by
Congress- for the District Of Columhia
ND all The territories, 40 that it was aps
plicable to ali schools under tho control
OF Congress, including the military acad-
emy at West Point and the naval acadeN
my at Annapolis. In our own State il
was Endorsed by the W. q. T, u, the
Baptist State Convention aud other
Christian organizations, by hfty.twe
ministers oI the Gospel. fortysiour ply
sicians, large number Of county super,
inteudents OF public instruction, two
hundred ana foity-two teachers and
many others.
Tue study is already largely Taught IN
mauy schools Of TINS State, inclndiug, as
/ am informed, tho Winfield Graded
School Of Meridian, aud is one IN which
pupils are sald TO take especial interest.
In the discussion OF the subject in Oous
gress it was well said by distinguished
representative, "It is a remedy, peacea>
bic, philosophical, medical, far.reachng.
Il intrenches on no mau's rights, pro.
scrlbss no mans business, dictates no
mau's habits, restricts no mans liberty.
it appeals only TO the power OF truth. z
The ca1ae of temperance will ever be a
hdciuating reform, until it il based upon
the education Of the people, and tho OBJ
ject OF tho measure was TO instruct the
young as to the real nature and effects OF
alcoholic drinks and other narcotics
upon the human sys EN-, that they might
shun the evil and render phohibitiou Rn-
necessary. The bill passed the Senate
Feb. IA, 1888, pnsted the House March
l, 1883, was enrolled March 0, 1888, and
vetoed by the Governor March 8. 1888,
the last day OF the session, 30 that there
vas no time to take further action upon
the subject. The objections OF the Gov.
eruot were not read, because presume
no ono called Tor the reading, hence the
Impression obtained that be gave no rea.
sons for his veto.
The bill as passed by the mississippi
Legislature was more conser vaiige, and
milder III its enforcement than that
passed by Congress upon the same snb
ject, or thogs enacted by tho various leg.
islatures OF other States. Its penalty
was, "and no warrant shall be Issued TO
any teacher who wi'fulIy refnses or neg.
lects to carry out tho provisions OF this
aet."
Scientific temperance is an important
subject, and why should il not be
"taught as thoroughly as the ordinary
English nrarches are taught in said
schools" as was contemplated by the
bill passed by the mississippi Legisla.
ture. II would lie Yiolent presump.
ton TO say that the teachers Of tho pnb-
lie schools in this State have % thorough
knowledge OF all the studies they pre-
tend TO teach, To prepare themselves for
examination, it Is necessary for them to
study the text books, and afterwards TO
make constant reference thereto while
iInpnrting instruction to pupils. and they
could and should inform themselves
upon this important matter as well az
upon others, aud any teacher who tried
could bave complied with tho require
ments Of the bill.
AS to the great cost Of the pupil there
was no more provision requiring the
purchasing of scientiGc temperance
books, than is now required to purchase
Biographies, ,grammars apd other school
boo ks.
This measure lassed both houses OF
the mississippi Legislature by more than
twoethirds msjorlty. has been endorsed
by Congress, and the Presideat oi the
United States, by tho Legislatures of
twenty three States aud their Cover
uors, including Alabama, aud by thou@
sands Of good and intelligent men and
women Of this State, and / cannot uns
derstand that the interests Of our public
schools are so differeEt from tne interests
of those Of other Srates, and that our
teachers should be less competent, and
that which is a blessing TO the public
schools OF other States would be imprac.
tical and ruinous 10 those OF the State OF
mississippi. Yours, &c,
A. L. MCGEE,