Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-04-21
n Friendly Word for the Al
lance, and an Opinion of
the Dram-shOp Law.

| sion OF his views on the political situa-
ton. Among other things, he said:
"Yes, l try to keep along with the
movements of the times. Every man
should do so, as well as he can. 1t is
not good citizenship for a man to keep
himself in ignorance of the public af-
fairs of his country, and l try to be a
good citizen"
II would like to have your views on
the present status of the reform forces
North and South"
81 have been greatly interested
studying the situation. The several
reform bodies are moving on converg-
ing lines and will come together in due
time. To appreciate the situation it
must be borne in mind that reforms
are not made to order. They all pro-
coed from natural sources, just as the
rivers have their beginnings in the
many mountain springs. There are
reasons for the unrest everywhere man
ifested. The common people see and
| feel that things are not working evenly.
Corporate power overshadows individ-
ual interests. We are coming to be
familiar with the millionaire and the
pauper side by side. Something is
wrong, the people think, and they must
be right, to some extent at least. When
great many people, widely separated,
make up their minds that changes
ought to be made, there are certain
to be many different ideas as to what
changes are needed and how to bring
them about. All first attempts will be
crude and awkward. The discipline of
failure must be passed through. Over
heated reformers must be rightly
| tempered, movements harmonized,
crudities abandoned and the clearer
lights welcomed. The reform move
ments in this country are passing
through this stage now-the Farmers
Alliance especially. While undergo
ing what appears to be defeat, merito-
rious movement is not really defeated.
The Alliance of Mississippi has done
great good as political factor already.
1t has compelled discussion of prac-
teal questions, which the old leaders
had no stomach for, and it has educated
the people in many ways No doubt,
as an organization, it has learned a
good deal which will be useful in the
future.
"You spoke of the various bodies
moving on converging lines"
"Yes, the st. Louis conference proves
that"
"What do you think of the rejection
of Prohibition by that conference ?"
"Well, it was a mistake, but it is one
| which will be corrected in time. The
ProhibitionistS are the most thorough
and best grounded reformers in the
field and the result at st. Louis shows
that the other bodies were not up to
the right point. The truth is, some
men in these bodies are not refOrmerS
at all, but were politicians, and they
are impatient for office. 1t is not the
chief end of a reformer to hold Office.
A large majority of the st. Louis Con-
ference were Prohibitionists, but to
break up the great whisky monopoly, is
a big job and they were afraid to under
take it. OF course they will lose by
their cowardice."
"How do you think the new movement
is likely to effect the Presidential cleo
ton ?"
at is hard to say. The South will be
solidly Democratic. 1t looks like there
will be breaks in all the Southern
States, but no ELECTORAL vote will be
lost to the Democratic side. take it,
that practically, there will be enough
Third party doings in the South to en-
courage the Northern wing of the
army. 1t is quite probable that results
may be changed in several Northern
States by the new party movement.
Kansas may be carried for the Peoples
party if the Democrats and Peoples
party combine. Indiana, always
doubtful, is made far more so by the
probable Prohibition and Peoples par
ty fusion. In the North, the Prohibi-
ton vote is mainly from the Republi-
can party, as is, also, that part of the
Peoples party vote cast by Alliance
men. Southern Democrats have every
reason to favor the break in the North,
as Northern Republicans have to take
comfort in the new move in the South"
~ would like to have your views of
the situation in Mississippi"
"Well, you know / am Prohibition
ist and look at things from that stand
point am born Democrat, but /
don't accept many of the undemocratic
doings of these latter days. The Dem
ocratic treatment of the liquor traffic
is outrageously undemocratic. 1t
makes a monopoly of the most lucra- |
tive business in the State. The men
who can pay the high license can have
the right to do what poor man can't
do. 1t is undemocratic and illogical. |
Prohibition or free whisky are the al |
ternatiyes. The whole license scheme
is in the interest of monopoly, until it |
reaches the point of practical prohibi-
ton. l can prove by the facts and fig
ures that the increase of drinking has
kept pace with the high license scheme,
taking the country over. In Mississip- /
pi a majority of the Democrats are
Prohibitionists, of sort. Nationally,
the party is whisky-soa And ma
tionally Southern Democrats amoun4