Mississippi leader. (Jackson, Miss.) 1892-1895, 1894-03-13
Blind Tigers.

Bl1nu
A voice is heard in Mississippi ask
ing why it is necessary to obtain Pro
hibition when blind tigers are permit
ted to exist? And what the w. c. T
U. in our beloved State intends to dc
to suppress the evil? Many loyal mer
and women think that an open evil is
better than covered shame. Now
suppose we all have quiet talk about
blind tigers: Many believe that every
town where Prohibition is the law
blind tigers exist in every dark corner
every hidden stairway leads to mix
lures unheard of. This is not true
there are towns where drinl
of whisky cannot be purchased
and these towns are in Mis-
sissippi. Just above here, when
the daily trains are about tc
leave Tennessee the porter announces
the fact to drummers, with the signifi
cant conclusion that they must supply
themselves with something to drinl
for they will neuer get it IN Mississippi
In towns where Prohibition has long
been established we hear little or nc
complaint against blind tigers. Why is
this? Simply because the people real
ize that eternal vigilance is the price
of liberty. Blind tigers follow the
wake of the open saloon as naturally
as sharks follow vessel. This hydra
headed monster dies hard-cut off one
head and another will spring up equal
ly hideous, and perhaps more revolt
ing than the open saloon; it takes
months and sometimes years to estab-
lish correct sentiment in regard to
Prohibition. There is always GER
tain class of rum soaked loafers who
will sell their very souls for glass of
mean liquor, to lower the standard of
manhood by completely debauching
their better selves. They prefer the
downward path and will not even lift
their eyes to look upon holy things
We cannot hope for the reformation of
all, but we do hope to keep our grow
ing boys from falling into the pitfalls
that have deadened the ambition and
killed the hope of SO many of Missis-
sippi's most brilliant and gifted sons.
We are not building for today, but for
future generations.
Ills weary watching wave on wave,
And yet the tide heaves onward;
We build like corals grave on grave
But pave a pathway sunward.
We are beaten back in many a fray,
But newer strength we borrow;
And where the van guard rests today,
The rear shall camp tomorrow.
Our boys must see that not only the
hand of God is against this great evil,
but the stamp and seal of law is against
its existence. The physical result of
intemperance is taught daily in our
public schools. Sunday after Sunday
consecrated men of God proclaim its
moral effect to listening boyhood. Is
this seed sown upon flint? Oh no, it
will soon bear a rich fruitage for tenn
perance and the next generation will
see that justice will prevail in the laws
of our land. But how are we to put
down blind tigers? We are confronted
by this question hour after hour.
To have Christian temperance in any
town, there must be Christian gov
eminent. You can't suppress blind I'll
gers when the mayor and marshal con-
done the evil If you will examine the
standing of the officials in any Prohi-
bition town you can tell whether they
have blind tigers without consulting
the people. You must have officers
who are so aggressive that this traffic
will become an aggravated offense, and
who will put this evil beyond the pale
of civilization as a public nuisance.
This traffic cannot be treated with any
respect or liberation. The blind tiger
is an outrageous perversion of justice,
and silence from law abiding citizens
in regard to it's existence is criminal
offense in the eyes of God. There
must be no compromise but an earnest
condemnation from every Christian
voter, otherwise he is in guilty COM
plicity with the lawless element of his
community. / heard Christian citi-
zen of one of the most prosperous
towns in North Mississippi state that
he know of four blind tigers in full OPP
Grafton in his town. Upon being ask
ed why he made no effort to suppress
them, he replied: that the officials
were all whisky men and would not see
justice meted out to the recalcitrants.
and it would only bring public condem-
nation down upon his own head, and
he didn't care to mix with such a crowd.
The only remedy for blind tigers is for
every man to do his duty regardless of
consequences. Surely there are ten
righteous men in every community
who will assist in putting down this
evil, who will elect Christian men to
All places of trust and assist them in
enforcing the Law. Mrs. Gambrell once