Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-02-06
a EulOgy-An ENhortation-A
Great Opportunity to be
Improved.
The "Smart Alec Tribe Sc
verely Rebukcd.
BY J. d. SMITH, VI. d.
Written for The Mississippi Leader

Written for The Mississippi LEADER
have just read Bishop Galloway
Interview of Jan. l, '94, at jackson,
Miss, published in the New Orleans
PicayuDe of End, and rcpublished in
THE LEADER of the 9th. There is so
much in Bishop Galloway to admire
and commend that it may seem to
some waste of time to undertake TO
point out in what he may do or say,
anything Objectionable. And yet, one
mistake made by such a man may Sc
riously involve the most vital interests
of millions of others. Then again,
having been IL member of the same
Church as the Bishop for over forty
years, and being in accord with the
doctrines and in love with the polity
of that church, | may not be just the
man to point out and critically discuss
what may seem to NE an error III one
whom | so highly esteem. But | am
not among the number who seem to
believe that Bishop cannot make a
mistake, nor do | regard Bishop Gal
proach infalibility by reason of the
high Office to which he has been pro-
NOTED. He is one of us, and one of
the people in affairs of both Church
and State, and we all feel that we can
so treat him and be treated by him.
Hence have nothing to do in this
discussion with his ecclesiastical title,
but shall deal simply with the express
ed opinions of Chas. Il, Galloway.
And claim that in the above named
interview, he is in error, or that | am
in error, and that if the error in either
one of us, and in those who act with
us is perpetuated, it will injuriously
affect thousands who are to come at
ter us: and hence it is not only our
privilege but our duty as brethren
to give each other the benefit of a de-
tailed discussion of the exact question
involved. have no controversy with
Bishop Galloway with regard to Mis-
sissippi having the most thoroughly
restrictive Liquor Licensing Law of
any State in the Union; and yet, ac-
cOrding to his own showing it is but
little more restrictive than were the
laws of that territory ninety one years
ago. (See his published interview
And if Mississippi will enfranchise
her male population to the same eX-
tent as exists in other States of the
Union, | question if it will be more
effective than her restrictive law of
1908.
The Bishop says, awe are not afraid
of the qualified electors. 1t is the un-
qualified, generally, who favor liquor
petitions. Hence our qualified suf-
frage has become the mightiest weap-
on in the hands of Prohbtionists.'
If this is true (Which we do not
question: and Mississippi does not
seize the golden opportunity thereby
made to intrench herself behird the
strongest prOhibitory measures it is
possible to enact into law, she should
never again boast of her foresight or
intelligence. do not think there is
another State in the Union that would
not do it under similar circumstances.
And now | come to the main point
of difference between Bishop Gallo
way and myself. Speaking of the
Mississippi liquor licensing ldW, he
says, 81 believe our law one of the
very best in the United States. 1t is
based on correct principle, is fair in
its provisions, Is well calculated to dc
velOp and keep alive moral conviction
Oh the great evils of the liquor traffic.
and sooner or later will lead to the
complete emancipation of the State
These are startling declarations
when coming from an eminent Divine;
and if strictly true the Bible is farce
and our bOasted civil government is
il fraud; or else am too dull of com.
prehension to understand the plain
statement of a position made in my
own mother tongue. Let us under
stand first that our United States SUI
preme Court has settled the question
that, .'there is no greater source of
crime and suffering to society than
the dramshop"; and that because of
this well settled fact, "there is no i'll
herent right in Il citizen of IL State or
of the United States to conduct one;
and that the creating of such II right
sis a matter of legislative will only"
(See CrOwly VS.. Christensen, L. S. Re-
port. vol. 1877. p. 80, date Nov. 10,
'9O.)
Now, in the case of all other evils,
declared by our highest court to have
no inherent right to exists because of
their evil nature, the rule with allleg-
islative bodies is not to license or le-
galize them with restrictions, but
simply to enact n legal penalty for
engaging in them. And this is just
what ProhibitiOnists who wish to
make our laws harmonic with them
selves, and with the laws of God de-
liyered through Moses to the Israel
ties, propose to do with the .judicialiy
declared liquor traffic evil. But the
first thing the Mississippi liquor law
does is to license the business and
thereby create and invest in some one
the right to run it, and then begin to
plaee restrictions around it and raise
!, revenue from it. And this, Bishop
galloway says he believes to be zone
of the very best laws ION the subieet)
Ia the United States" Yes; equally as
rood If not better than the laws Of
States that do not license it at all
WHY did not the Bishop enter his pro-