Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-04-11
COLUMN.
EDITED BY JoNEsBoRo W. c. T. U.
Total abstinence for the individual,
total prohibition for the State.


total prohibition for the State.
The w. @. T. U. will meet as usual
Thursday at 8 Pm. in the hall. The
junior L. 7. L. will meet at 4 o'clock
the same day.
IL ACTION OF II CONFERENCE IN
DoRsED.
At your request l will state, as clearly
and sincerely as may be done, the facts
relating to the reasons for, and the eff
fects of, the recent action had by those
meeting in response to the call of Rev.
&. R. Stuart. The facts are, that there
has been an honest difference of opin-
ion between those favoring Prohibition,
as to the best methods to be used for
accomplishing the desired result. Many
of the friends of Prohibition who have
retained their places in the old parties,
holding that the organization of the
third party had hindered instead of
helped, have constantly compared the
non partisan contest Tor constitutional
amendment with the vote had since,
for the Prohibition party, as such. On
the other hand, members of the Prohi-
bition party have construed the action
OF the other two parties Since a vote on
constitutional amendment to declare
that the issue should not again re ap
pear in the political field OF Tennessee.
According equal honesty to friends
OF both classes OF Prohibition, the time
had fully come to meet together "nd
compare views. The result OF this COM
parlson was an agreement to a PROPOSE
ton not intending to affect the allegi
ance OF any man to a party with which
he may heretofore have cooperated.
The reasons which led to a willing
ness on the part of some of us at any
rate, were first to give the best possible
opportunity for a reargument OF Prohi
bition before the people OF Tennessee,
knowing that agitation of the question
always results favorable to the growth
OF principle. 1t has often been said
to third party Prohibitionists that they
were too narrow and radical, and
would not allow the gradual methods
which human experience and common
sense Indicate as necessary to success.
TO silence this objection we accepted
the statement that every good man was
against the open saloon, 30 that we
propose to take out of the present cam
paign every question that would divide
lis from the good men OF all the parties;
in doing this, we haye conceded every.
thing possible without violating prin-
ciple. If we can not unite upon this,
1t is perfectly plain to every man of
ordinary that we can unite upon
nothing.
We agreed to recommend the most
popular feature of the Mississippi law
a principle which, from the inception
OF the Government of the United States,
has been regarded as one of the most
sacred rights of the American citizen.
Some OF the features o the Mississippi
law we regarded as inapplicable to the
condition of our State, and it was fear
ed would complicate the situation to
which we have attained through the
action of the foul mile law. There are
points OF great stregth in the guards
placed by Mississippi law around it's
petition features. First, the petitions
in favor Of licence and to be printed in
a public newspaper three separate times;
few good men will desire to have their
names 30 placarded. Second, the coun-
ter petition has the full right to secure
rs many of the signatures found upon
the first petition as they may be able
to induce to sign it. When the count
is made, all such double signatures are
to be counted against and never for
license. Against this method of action
neither Of the old parties as such have
heretofore arrayed themselves. Since
1t is an integral part of the bill of rights
fundamental in our Republican Gov
eminent, we are entitled to hope that
it will elicit the least possible opposi-
ton.
Now as to the effects. The best to be
hoped for is that a better class of men
may be brought into the next legisla-
ture, better representatives of the Pro-
hibitiOn sentiment as indicated by the
amendment vote of the various church
assemblies.
Should we fail in this, we will have
convinced the friends of Prohibition of
the old parties that their confidence in
non partisan Prohibition is misplaced.
We have asked the least possible; we
have asked for it in the most popular
methods practicable; if non partisan
Prohibition will not give us this, then
every honest and capable man must
admit the necessity for separate and
distinct organization.-D. G. Kelley,
in the Pilot.
Wisdom says: Honesty is the best
policy" Virtue says: II do not care
~ haitian II 10 tho koot .- :.