Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1894-06-06
TEMPERANCE COLUMN.
EDITED by JoNEsBoRo W. c. T. o..
THE STUART CAMPAIGN

In a recent issue of the Pilot j. c..
Hodges, of Morristown, Tenn, writes
an article criticising the new temper.
ance movement inaugurated by Rev.
Geo. Stuart, of Cleveland. Now, in a
move of this kind it is desirable that
all who oppose the drink traffic get to-
gether, and if such combination is not
made, the movement will be futile,
The gentleman referred to is a Prohi-
bitlonist and a representative one. His
views might be taken as an index of
the position of Others just as much OPP
posed to the drink traffic.
His statements as to the ministry
certainly do not reflect credit upon that
faction. But as a full statement of the
plan and it's benefits vas not made in
the aforementioned article, such expo
sition will now be in order.
1t has been said we have not the
franchise law Of Mississippi. Well,
we are dealing with conditions as they
exist in the State of Tennessee. Prob
ably the franchise law would be a good
thing ii we had it, but we must fight
with the weapons at hand.
Briefly outlined, the STUART plann
is not intended in any way to interfere
with our existing legislation. The full
benefits of the four mile law will still
be in force. Something will be added.
The Mississippi law is not to be taken
fully under the law. A majority may
in a dry" district petition and have
the saloon established.
This was the feature objected to by
the Prohibisionists, and when this was
embodied in the resolutions they were
defeated, but on the following day
resolutions were presented which said:
Resolved, \ Il That we proceed to
effect an organization on the basis
above indicated, with a view to electing
Legislature pledged to secure the right
OF municipalities which may so desire
TO avail themselves of the petition fea-
ture OF the Mississippi law in order to
Danish the saloons from their corporate
limits.
In plain words, the object is to keep
Prohibition where it now is, and by
this petition feature have it banished
from towns where a majority of voters
are opposed to a saloon.
AS the State law now stands. nine
tenths of the voters could not prohibit
or refuse a license in an incorporated
town, If this proposed measure were
to become a law in all municipalities,
there would be a chance to expel the
saloon.
While many other Southern States
are able by a majority vote to Danish
it from county or town, we here are
powerless to do even this. These States
a also change from dry to wet by
the same means. But under this pro-
posed law for Tennessee q wet" town
may go dry" though a dry" town
can not change to wet" The one
who votes for this law is thus relived
from all danger of voting for a meas
which may at some time place saloons
in a dry" town.
All fears of having to constantly
struggle to keep a town dry" as with
the Mississippi plan, is removed. The
only thing we have to fight for is to
get a town dry" and then the contest
ceases as far as the statue is concerned.
1t is not a local opinion fight.
So much for the question at issue.
Now a hasty notice of points raised.
The hypothesis upon which the move
ment proceeds is that the Christian,
temperance and Prohibition forces
will do their duty.
They will threaten to withdraw their
votes from any and all candidates who
will not avow themselves as in favor
OF this plan, and mean, if elected, to
vote for it. What the candidates want
and must have is votes, and the blame
for the election of any candidate not
pledged to this policy will be upon
those who continue to support him re-
CARELESS of such position.
Next he says: ''The party Prohibi-
tionists, as a rule, are watching the
thing carefully, and when talked to,
as a rule, express the hope that good
will result from the campaign by rea-
son of the agitation.
Well, as the Prohibition party claims
that ithas been working for the last
twenty years in educational campaigns,
they could surely exclaim with the
Apostle Paul: Notwithstanding every
way, whether in pretense or in truth,
Christ is preached and | therein do
rejoice, yea, and will rejoice"
The rest of the article is taken up
with q criticism of local option and
dealing with points already noticed
A reply by II. NJ. Tarble in The Pilot.
All Free.