The Brookhaven leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1883-1891, 1889-07-18
The Prohibition Convention.

Inc EEo"'Oi''o" SOi S"'ih'
The meeting of the Prohibitionists
in jackson on the second inst. was
not large but it was of excellent quail
ty. The political canvass going for
ward now is against much interest in
other questions, especially Prohibi-
ton, of which political leaders always
fight shy. 1t is the ghost of modern
politics.
The Convention in tone was an i'm
provemcnt Oh the one a year ago.
There was less cringing and fawning
at the footstool of political power.
There was more candor of statement
than formerly, though less than the
whole truth was declared.
The Convention insisted that the
people ought to be educated to stand
by principle rather than to take the
devious and doubtful way of mere
policy. This declaration ought to he
pondered. conservative men" who
are willing to side track Prohibition
for every personal and political inter
est are cOnscrvatOrs, not of PrOhibi
ton, but of other and often antagOnis-
tic interests. Principle, fairly stated,
logically followed and boldly defend
ed is the back bone of reform. The
history of all reforms proves that
thorough measures are the only true,
aud, in the end, successful ones.
John the Baptist was no conservator
of Judaism, nor was Christ Luther
was radically right and did not at
tempt to grow n reform like parasite,
on the Catholic stock. DR.. Dollenger
was a conservator of Catholicism, and
his old Catholic movement died, while
Luther, Calvin and Knox succeeded
because they built on foundation of
principle.
The Convention declared, and with
increased emphasis, for a State Pro
hibitory law which will place the liq-
uor traffic under ban along with
gambling and other kindred vices.
This is its true place and company.
The next legislature will be urged to
enact such law. 1t ought to do it,
because it is right, and in this case,
principle and policy go together. 1t
is competent for the legislature to en-
act a prOhibitory law for the State.
Maine enjoyed the benefits of Prohibi-
ton for thirty years under statute.
There is no need of submitting this
question to popular vote of the peo-
pie any more than of submitting a
proposition to outlaw gambling.
The Convention urged all Prohibi-
tionists to vote for men favorable to
our principles. This is clearly right.
Whisky men vote for men who are
favorable to their traffic and have
long controlled politics, even while in
u minority. We ought to vote as we
pray. What consummate folly and
wickedness for Christian men to ele-
vate to power class of men commit
ted to the liquor traffic, and than
weep aud lament the ravages of this
great enemy of mankind!
The responsibility of continuing
the liquor traffic in Mississippi rests
with the dominant party. If that
: party, having the power as it has,
continues the bloody business, all the
sins of the traffic will be chargeablt
on it. But further, the responsibility
rests on the individual members OF
that party, and there is no way fol
any of us to clear ourselves Of blood
outlines except by doing all we cal
to overthrow..this evil. Undoubtedly
; a majority of the dominant party in
Mississippi are Prohibitionists. If
therefore, the liquor power is not de-
strOyed in this State next winter, il
, will be because VIC do not use Oul
f power for such humanitarian end
Every Christian voter ought to act on
the suggestion of the Convention
and vote only for such persons fol
Office as are favorable to our reform
, God forbid that we should perpetuate
; this curse another year.-BaptiSt Rec
ord.