Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1895-02-13
AN OPEN LETTER,

AN OPEN LETTER.
In last weeks issue of the Christian
Advocate of this city, is found a few
remarks addressed to the members of
the General Assembly now in session.
The article is full of truth and coming
from a leading organ OF a leading
church, will carry weight with it. 1t
reads as follows:
To the General Assembly of the State
of Tennessee-Gentlemen: We beg
your gracious pardon for the liberty
which we take in addressing you thus
directly. Our reason for doing so will
be fully disclosed before we are thro'
with this article. Will you kindly
lend us a listening ear for a little
while? 1t is not our purpose to utter
a single word concerning any question
of partisan character. Being set simply
for the advocacy of pure religion and
the promotion of good morals, we do
not feel even the faintest desire to med
die with matters lying beyond our le.
climate province. For this reason we
venture to approach you not as Demo
Gratis, as Republicans, nor as Populists,
but simply as the intelligent, patriotic
and upright representatives of a great
and proud State. Allow us, first of all,
to invoke the blessing of Almighty
God upon your deliberations. May He
who holds in His sovereign hands the
prosperity of individuals and of coal.
munities give you health and happi.
ness while you are engaged in your
legislative duties and guide you to wise
and honorable issues of all things.
If we should enter into argument
with you to show the evil results of the
liquor traffic, it would be offering an af-
front to your intelligence. The pro-
miscuous sale of ardent spirits is one of
the plague spots of our modern civiliza-
ton. That this allegation is the cold
and naked truth, let the vast array of
statues that have been enacted in all
lands to suppress or restrict it bear
witness. What other business has the
united judgment of mankind so hedged
about by penal l%imitationsY The only
real issue with thoughtful men is not
whether the business-especially as it
is carried on in the open saloon-is
wholly and utterly vicious, but whether
a method can be adopted that will shut
it up within the narrowest bounds, or
altogether wipe it out.
Ii Is not necessary to remind you
how strong the feeling is in Tennessee
In favor of doing everything that can
be lone to promote reform on this line.
Only six years ago as many as III, 900
of our fellow citizens-a clear majority,
as we believe, of the white voters of
the Statement to the polls and cast
their ballots in ~favorof a constitutional
amendment forever prohibiting the
manufacture and sale of ardent spirits.
May thousands of others who did not
look upon the scheme then proposed as
feasible, were, and are strongly hostile
to the saloon. Let no onedeceive him
self tv surprising that there has since
been either a change of view or an
abatement of zeal. While little or no
agitation has of late been going on, the
number of temperance men has been
multiplying and their conviction has
been deepening. No political party
can afford to despise or ignore a move.
ment that is backed up by so large a
following.
The four mile law, now a part of our
code, is rigidly prohibitory as far it
goes. Its beneficent effects are known
of all men. We do not suppose that
anyone could be found-say from
Johnson to Shelby-that would be bold
enough to urge its repeal. AS a matter
of course you will suffer it to stand in
unimpaired strength as q breakwater
against violence and crime in u ru.
raj districts. But other legislation is
needed. If any belief is ingrained in
the American character it is this, that
every community has the perfect right
to regulate Its W affairs as far as it
a do so without interfering with the
general welfare. Why, then, should
the open saloon be fastened upon all
our incorporated towns and cities with
out their consent, and often in the
teeth of their active protest? Such a
policy is unrepublican and undemo.
cratic. 1t is impossible to defend it by
rational arguments. No devotee of
the doctrine of local self Government
consistently advocate it.
This is the point to which we have
been driving: You will be asked by
n%umerously signed petitions coming
from all classes of citizens to enact
some kind of law that will enable our
towns and cities to say for themselves
whether they will have barrooms or
not. Surely you will be prompt to
grant them this poor privilege. We
make our appeal 10 you on the broad
ground of justice aud fairness, and we
beg you to think we'll before you de-
cline to heed it. 1t may be our duty
to speak more specifically hereafter.
For the present we are content to call
your attention to the larger aspects of
the issue that will be brought before
you.