The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1890-04-19
TIRE PROHIBIFIOSISfS.

HE IhuHtblllUtloIos
For the motives and character of
the authors of the following address
the TINES has the highest respect.
But the cause they advocate is not
going to be advanced by this ill-timed
effort to make the constitutional Con-
yention mere subsidiary to their
extreme doctrines. The argument that
only the negroes and the politicians of
the negro counties, the lotteries and
the whiskey trusts oppose prohibition,
and that all of the churches, ministers
and moral associations and forces
favor that theory is portentous in
assumption. But after all the indict-
ment is worth no more than the truth
it holds. 1t is not questioned that it is
religiously believed by those who
assert it, that @negro rule infests the
domain of political morals and social
order" and that, therefore, the saloons
exist. But it Is mere assertion, and
demonstrable error, for all that.
This address is, in political tactics, a
vain play and rests upon delusive
premise. There viii not be twenty
delegates in the convention in favor Of
Constitutional State Prohibition, no
more than there has never been Mis-
sissippi Legislature with aught but a
small minority in favor of prohibition;
except by the operations of "local
option in localities and counties which
may SO declare by direct vote and
voice ofa majority. 1t is all well to
say that majority of the counties are
"dry," but a very different thing
to say that this majority wish TO
impose prohibition ON the minority of
counties. The minority counties, by
the way, will in delegate strength over
whelmingly outweigh the majority:
THE ADDRESS.
To the People of Mississippi:
At meeting of the State Prohibi.
tion Executive Committee, held in the
city of Jackson March 25th, the under.
signed were appointed to lay before
the people OF the State the condition
and the reasonable claims of the Pro
hibition cause within the Common
wealth.
The active, organized temperance
reform in Mississippi is now about I
decade old. During this time tht
question has been discussed on every
side, the public conscience enlightened
and the result has been a great ant
solid advance in practical reform O
every kind. The various Christian
, denominations have committed them
selves, In their great assemblies, to th,
principle of Prohibition. The Mason
have outlawed the saloon, as haye ais,
many Farmers Alliarces. The saloon
have been outlawed in 80 of the 4
counties of the State. And In nun
Der of the remaining counties whiske,
il sold only at the court house town
: leaving the smaller towns and countr'
, places free from the curse. 1t is clea
from these facts that the victory |
practically won in Mississippi. Blu
the case may be put in a much NOR
assuring light. Claiborne, our owI
historian, said. "No cause which th
ministry espoused was ever lost in an
country" This is the teaching of a
: history. The ministry of Mississippi
b are practically unit against the 81
Q loon, and public sentiment Is so &C
\ vsnced on the subject, that no ministe
Il can hold the respect of the masses,
n he Is the advocate OF, or apologist 70
n the liquor traffic. This mighty fert
u is augmented by the organized womal
l, hood of the State, inspired with IL
Q righteous purpose Of destroying Il
q destroyer of their homes and hope
The schools and colleges are also full
le in line with the reform move
10 A study of the field shows concl
s. sively that the last hope and refuge
in the saloon in Mississippi is the ign
a. rant, vicious negro vote. We say
at norant, vicious negro vote, becau
is the intelligent and moral of that ra
'g are not for the saloon, but they a
rs few compared 10 the great horde
in ignorant and vicious negroes. II
Id remaining whiskey counties are in (
y black belts, aud they are kept wet
nr the negroes being massed ON the 81
of the saloon. 1t is significant Fl
ne that the only three counties that ha
be voted for Prohibition aud then 40
ch back to the saloon, arc heavy bla
MT counties, and they were carried ba
~ to tho wet column by whisky poll
ed clans massing the negroes on that si'
OF 1t is manifest from these facts, cas-
er accessible to all, clear and indisputab
he that the overwhelming majority of I
intelligent white people of Mississir
an are Prohibitionists, and would enl
Prohibition as the State policy If
IT. were not for the negro vote. 1t is
's- unwritten law of the land that whi
to that is, intelligent supremacy, is to
ny maintained as the only protection
both races, How long will negro RI
IN in the domain of political morals a
use social order be tolerated by the inte
to gent, high-toned manhood of Mis-,
eel sippi2
TO We are approaching oAe of the m
ur important crises in the history of {
an State. On the 18th of August pro
'p mo, there will be assembled in Jacks
Pc O convention, the business of VIII
IN will be to frame O new Consttuti
OF upon which our social order and po
ais ical safety for years to come will
nu pend. 1t Is of the first importal
,ed that that convention be composed
Try our ablest and best men; men W
ability to understand what Is rig
me and moral courage TO do 1t. The
ear mand is for broad-minded statesm
M not professional politicians and til
III servers.
at II Is our duty to inform you that
at ready the great Whisky Trust or G,
the bine of the North and West has OF
ma ed vigorous campaign in Mississil
nge with view to capturing the con1
nga ton in their interest. 1t is decla