The leader. [volume] (Brookhaven, Miss.) 1895-1905, 1895-10-08

facture Criminals and Manage Our
Politics?-who Is on the Lords
| Side? III t
- tREv. GEORGE +. PESTEoosT]
The saloon is an agent for the corrup-
ton of the morals of the home OF every
Imam who is a patron Of it.
The saloon is q direct attack upon our
children.
The saloon breathes q moral pesti-
lence in every neighborhood where it is
located.
The saloon is the instigator OF the
most of the violence and the mother OF
nine-tenths of the crime Of our city.
The saloon keeper is a fragrant and
defiant lawbreaker.
I have already said as much, but let
me say it again. The saloon keeper says
defiantly, "H we may not sell liquor
on the Sabbath with the consent OF the
law we will do it in defiance of the
law"
Every such saloon keeper is deliber-
ate and determined lawbreaker and
criminal
Let the principle of the saloon keeper
prevail, and we have rebellion which
in its effects will be more deadly than
the one which cost the nation billions
of treasure and more than 1000, 900
lives to put down.
If we sit silent and idle any longer,
before God we are as guilty as the ex-
else board or common council, who
claim that they are only meeting the
wants and granting the petition OF the
citizens themselves.
Not to protest, not to act, is to acqul-
esce, and that is completely with the
evil.
Let me define my position.
came into political existence with
the Republican party.
cast my first vote for Abraham Lin
coin and my last vote for James q.
Blaine.
am not ashamed of my record as an
out and out Republican up to this mo-
ment-
have rejoiced in the principles and
triumphs of the grand old party, but
now see that grand old party trailing
the glorious banner Of truth and right
eousness, under which she has marched
for a quarter of a century to victory, in
the dust and filth of the saloon, which
has ever been the bulwark Of her foes,
and lifting aloft the filthy and criminal
rag of rum and riot" for the sake of
votes and Office and spoils-
Lord Bacon has said that the saddest
sight in this world lis to see man
marching in procession at the funeral Of
his own greatness. ~
He was uttering an unconscious proph-
ecy Of the end of the Republican party.
This is not the party of Abraham
Lincoln, of Seward, of Andrew and the
heroes, military and civic, of 90 years
ago
She has been drugged by rum and
beer and now is strangely metamor
phosed.
Brethren, in the face of God and man
cannot march in procession with that
party any longer, for I cannot at once
look upon that new banner at the head
Of the column and into the face Of God
/ could not preach Gods gospel on
Sunday and vote with a party ON Mon
day that stakes its existence upon the
patronage of the saloon, and won't;
nor do believe you will
1t costs me more than I can tell you
to thus publicly, as I have in the secret
of my heart, renounce my political ALE
glance to the Republican party, but I
have done so, and would rather now
lift my hand and cast my vote to kill it
and bury it miles deep in the grave Of
political oblivion than to see it live
through one more state administration
by the grace Of the monstrous Liquor
Dealers association and the patronage
of the saloon keepers
The Democratic party is saloon par
ty from principle. ..e.
They cannot legislate against the sa-
loon without an entire regeneration Of
their principles, for. as they put it, they
are opposed to all sumptuary legisla-
ton"
The Republican party is not saloon
party from principle, but for the sake
Of votes she has stultifed her principles
and declared for the saloons
There is, therefore, no remedy short
Of political organization and Legislation,
which, if it cannot completely destroy
this monster criminal business, win at
least 50 hold it In check and terror that
il cannot thrive
Therefore we must organize third
party, whose cornerstone shall be the
prohibition Of the traffic.
| Our remedy lies in the organization
Of an antisaloon party, whose one busi-
ness shall be TO destroy the power Of
the saloon. not by protests. but by votes.
| There are enough voters In this nation
who are opposed to the saloons, IL they
win- TO overthrow their power.
I pray God they may do 50
There is no help TO be had from either
Of the two great political organizations,
and nothing but legislation. with pow
erful public sentiment behind ii, viii
deliver us cut Of the hands Of the Phil
isfine saloon keepers
The time clock Of God Almighty il
ringing out the hour Of high noon
4 4.