Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-08-28

settle any question, because they are
agreed on but one thing"-they want
the offices, and the people will settle
that by leaving them out sooner or
later. There are eleven Democratic
nominees for Congress in this State
and one Democratic nominee for Gov
ernor and there are twelve platforms,
each one differing from nearly all the
others on the finance question. If the
Georgia delegation in the next Con
gress are all Democrats and alone were
given the Job of settling the money
question, if the members respect their
platform pledges, they could not settle
ent ideas. Nearly all the people greet
ed this with loud hurrah. A few kept
silent and unused while the fires burn
ed" Why? Selah!
A few days since said to leading
church member in this county, what
do you think of the proposition to
hold local option election?" He re-
piled, Il am as good Prohibitionist as
any body. but am opposed to it out
out. If it had not been for the saloons
the Populists would have beaten us
two years ago. We cannot afford to
vote out the saloons now. If we do we
are beat certain" l replied, "Iour
idea is to keep the saloons here to save
the Democratic party with" "les,
he said 'those four saloon keepers can
poll more votes for the party than any
one hundred men in the county"
And | said that's good reason for
getting rid of them" The statement
of this man, and his opposition to an
election, form exactly the reason for
the DIST plank in the Democratic plat
form. How can any thoughtful Chris
tian man endorse such political meth
DDS? Selah
Not long since minister said to me,
Il am disguised with politics. | never
intend to vote again till things get bet
ter" My reply was, BE ashamed of
yourself. Who do you suppose are 60
ing to make things get better if all the
best people are too nice to look after
the interest of the country" He said
Il have voted the Democratic ticket
all my life and things go from bad to
worse every year. Besides he said
with a deep sigh. my people are di-
yided and | don't want to make any of
them mad by taking sides with any of
them" Some of your people are
right. | guess. and some are wrong. l
yentured to remark He said yes.
Then go with those who are right and
get the others right as soon as possible.
| suggested. \ preacher, as | told the
good brother. who shirks the response
bility of citizenship at the ballot box,
nv AS al in
The people make the country what it
is-that very preacher has helped to do
it. Let ministers help make the coun-
try what it ought to be. Selah!
When some ministers think how
sadly things are out of joint, they, with
the people they preach to, ought to
feel like the Texas farmer Sam Jones
tells about. This is the story: IAN old
farmer shearing sheep begun at the
tail and sheared up to the head. a
man asked him why be did that and
the farmer said, vii. tell you the
truth, my friend In the last election
| voted the Democratic ticket and wool
is I cents per pound, and since that
election have not had the hardihood
to look an honest sheep square in the
face" For the good of the country and
the honor Of God; may his tribe rapid
ly increase. Se!ah:
I have some engagements to make
Prohibition speeches in local option
campaigns. shall do my best to help
those who call on me, but | shall Won
der all the time who is going to en-
force Prohibition, if the saloons are
outlawed! AS it has been in Mississip-
pi, so it is here. The negro and for
eign vote is the terror in elections; and,
| am told, the politicians generally
help the saloons against the moral
forces. Law and Order Leagues, | am
told, are needed in many places to en-
force the law Democratic officials have
sworn to, but will not enforce.
With best wishes to you and all your
readers. Sincerely,
j. II. GAaPREIL.
Greensboro, Ga.