Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1892-04-28

| bnTOUHH, pOllblCdl CudDHclss
THE DELUsIoN THAT THE LICENSED LIQ
/ TOR TRAFFIC is NOT POLITICAL
QUESTION
originated with another delusiOn Oi
equal absurdity, that is, that politi.
cal question must necessarily and AT
| all times be a party question. A
question involving government al re-
lation to any thing is political ques-
tioB, though it may never become a
party question.
But when such questions assume
vast proportions, involve large inter
ests, give rise to widely diverging
opinions, and require persistent adj
ministrative interference as well as
radical legislative enactment to per-
manently settle them they are never
settled until they do become party
questions. The institution of slavery
was as much q political question be-
fore the organization of the abolition
party as it was afterwards. But the
| wrong of its existence was never
pressed home upon the hearts and
consciences of the people, and its per-
became a party question.
Then what non-partisan measures
| has failed to do in a century, was ac-
complished in less than decade and
the conflict that resulted in its de-
struction was all the more saDguinary
because of the length of time the pub
lie conscience had been permitted to
slumber over manifest wrong.
so WITH THE LICENSED LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
It was as much a political question
from the time of the first legislative
act to license it and to receive reve-
nue. from it, as it has been since the
organization of the Prohibition party.
The additional thing sought to be ac-
complished by that party is to make
it party question, as well as a politi
cal one so that it too may be perma
nently settled. And as it was with
slavery so it will be with the liquor
traffic the longer the public con-
science is permitted to slumber over
it, and is trained to t)lerate it, the
more severe will be the final conflict
when it does come and the greater
will be the sacrifices necessary to ac-
complish its destruction. But as Sc
ward prophetically said, "1his country
cannot remain half sldre and half .free;"
so now we declare that it cannot re-
main part under the domination of a
liquorlicensed oligarchy, ,and the other
part free from the curse that its own
citizens have helped with their ballots
to fasten on their neighbors. Remem
Der our court oflast resort says, "Gov
ernment is organized with view to
the preservation of the public health
and public morals; and cannot divest
itself of the power to provide for
them" If the licensed liquor traffic
is conducive to the public health and
the public morals to the safety, peace,
and prosperity of the people; to the
protection of innocent citizens-wo-
men and children included-in their
rights to life, liberty and the pursuit
of happiness and to the preservation
and Improvement of their morals ;
then the citizens of every community
in the government, minOrities as well
as majorities, are entitled to its full
benefit, to the extent of the ability of
the gOvesnment to give it to them. If
on the other hand it is injurious to
these sacred interests. as has been de-
clared by the highest judicial tribunal
known to civiliZatiOn-the United
States Supreme Court-then the citi-
zens of every community in the gov
ernment, minorities as well as major
tiles, are equally entitled to protec-
ton from its presence and baneful
influences. To deny the proposition
is to deny the FatherhoOd of God and
the intended Brotherhood of man in
government. AS malignant ex-
cresence cannot continue to grow on
any part of the human body without
contaminating and finally destroying
the whole system: neither can this
malignant saloon excresence continue
to grow on any part of the body poll
tic without cOntaminating and finally
destroying every part and function of
our once benign government. H ...
The man. or the community that
expects to permanently escape the
results of an evil that their reckless
partisan voting has helped to fasten
on other communities is simply post
poning a penalty that will sooner or
later be inflicted on them or their
prosperity. This traffic is now en-
grated into the statutes of our coun-
| try, Federal aud State, contrary to the
principles of our common law and
intent of our constitution. Existing
as formerly, political but not Il party
question, and with two dominant
political parties, each with a large
element fully intent on its perpetua-
ton, and threatening the destruction
of their own respective parties if
either dares to attempt its overthrow /;
| it will, like an open career left by the
tiGid surgeon to its own ravages, con-
tinue to curse our country with in
creasing malignancy until virtue is
displaced by vice, and political NOR
ality becomes thing Of the past.
Make it party question, as well as
a political one, upon which this entire
nation can divide; and thrust the
terrible picture of its deplorable work
before the eyes of the whole people in
every canvass and at every election
and saddle the responsibility for its
existence upon those only who espouse
its cause by voting for its continuance;
4 and a decade will suffice for its over
throw. A swarm of petted vulture: