The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-01
DOWNS WHISKY.
a GREAT TEMPBRANoE VICTORY
WOW IN M~IssISsIPBL

nnce question Causes Hronhie u = Churen-
NEw ORLEANS, July PA rupture has oc-
CURED In St Andrews Episcopal Church at
Jackson. the State capital Of Mississippi. which
is described as being full Of significance. The
leading Mississippi papers say that It marks
tho 6nal downfall of the whiskey power in tho
capital city and in Mississippi"
There are some who will not admit that tho
"whiskey power F" has been finally crushed. but
even they acknowledge that an important strug.
gle over the temperance question in Mississippi
is taking place, and that there is no doubt as to
tho result. 1t has not found its way into party
politics. although there was n prohibition ma
tional ticket put up at one election, and It was
supported by the Republicans; but IL has forced
itself into religion. finances. and the family.
The difference between Maine AMI Mississippi
is well illustrated in the difference in the man
ner in which the Same question was treated in
the two States. Both had exactly the same OBJ
ject in view-tho abolition of the saloon. In
Mississippi tho fear OF the negro In politics
has prevented tho whites from dividing on
the whiskoy line or any similar moral or
economic issue, at least at State or ma
tional elections. The temperance question.
II voted on in State contests, would breed
III feeling and bitterness, and ultimately
political division. Hence the idoa OF q State
prohibitory law was abandoned and local op-
w. '~S VANhS's IL PVplAO u
each county or district vote for license" or
mo license" that is whether liquor shall be
allowed TO nc sold during the year. The local
oDtion elections are held entirely separate from
the others. so that the liquor question cannot
get mixed up with State politics in any way. A
and B may vote, the one for. the other against,
license ut one OF these side elections but, when
November comes around, they will DO side
by side for the Democratic party. and will
- Ill Ill ...-
to affect their party politics. Tho result Of
this course has been TO prevent the organi-
zation Of a temperance or prohibition party such
rs exists In many OF the Northern States. An
other advantage OF the local option system has
been that 1t renders the laws against license
practical and easily enforced. When a county
votes for prohibition the people are generally
strong enough to see that the law is enforced.
But, although the liquor issue does not figure
in party politics In Mississippi as II does In
Maine. it figures even more conspicuously in
the church, in society, and a hundred other
ways. 1t has been the Cause OF several fights in
which lives have been lost; it has affected the
finances and even he public schools ot the State;
It has brought about extra sessions OF the LeSis-
ieture, and proposed changes in the Constitu-
ton; 1t has invaded the family and the church.
anu has had in every way a greater influence
than II II had been left a merely political ques-
ton. The march Of the temperance or prohi-
bition cause in Mississippi Although these
words are not used to describe it-has
been steadily onward. This Is true to
a large extent in all the Southeastern States.
particularly Mississippi. Louisiana, and Texas.
tour;htths OF the counties in these States are
closed ~ Shiskey. Mississippi. however. Is
well in the lead; In on!, NV Of its seveEsy-fse
enty are temperance. There may ne a variation
from year 10 year. because a county, may go
but the general tendency is to drive whisk,
out Mos. OF III" ~'cense counties are small
there is a large creole or French popula-
ton and where New Orleans influence is
The State capital. is STUFFED. is smother where
the TEN perance people are not all now ertul. as
It varies. from one election to another. II is
temperance to-day by a small majority. Ii is
here tina; the ".whiskey power" as The Mlss!s-
sippi, papers call IT, is strongest. fnd it is Jack
the last standby OF the saloon. The temperance
people are now carrying the matter into the
friends Of license 3 religious standing. The re-
Iisions backing which the cause Of temperance
and viii in all probability destroy St the last este hope
It Is pot Feneraily known that the question of
education is directly bound up with the liquor
the abolition OF the saloon are serioesiy tS-e eat
ening the pTblie school system OF Mississippi.
When Mississippi adopted IL. s. PRESENT aps aeS coS SSaln:
ton. which provides for IN educational qunlih-
sa,ion; + was insisted on N ty Senator George; The
It should make liberal provision for educa.
ton; III we make reading and writing an
we must give every one q chance to learn
to read and write, otherwise the state will
the people distranchised and denying them a
eanns se- OF ~ securing nIIng -, th Ts;. Fe~Gnirements nsees.
should give every youth a chance to obtain an
education and therefore TO vote prevailed. and
provide a large sum annually from the State
revenues for the support Of the public schools in
the several counties. The bulk OF the money
source was ample for the schools at the time tho
provision was adopted and continued so for
But as temperance spread. and county after
county voted against licenses. the evenueswhich
had been intended for the schools diminished.
The State was bound 10 support the schools, and
did so. but for the last hall dozen years this has
rihces. and BY financial Complications of an
aggravated character. which finally forced the
recent extra session OF the legislature. There
was q deficit each year.. which steadily grew
larger, for the revenues. greatly diminished by
the temperance movement, fell far behind the ex-
Gov. McLsurin was hnaliy compelled to call the
Legislature in extra session a few weeks ago.
and separated the school fund from the regular
State fund. This means a d~esertion by the Site
tenn. to a large extent the Counties being Iets 10
nan lie me matter themselves; The money for
inc SCHOOLS, instead OF coming almost ex-
clusiyely from the State Treasury, will be
furnished by the counties themselves.
This IL easy enough for the white counties. but
the black ones cannot support their schools
without state aid. The Withdrawal OF that as |
%sistance means the closing OF the negro schools.
y p to this time Mississippi he's fully carried out
rs pledge to the negroes, as is shown by he fact
that there are six black to Ave white children
attending the public schools. 1t is now proposed
TO drop the negro schools because the whiskey
license no longer yields enough revenue TO allow
me state TO give the amount 1t promised to edu-
CATION, The schools must tR Hha n, lnuad ar fka
state tax increased, and the latter proposition Is !
universally opposed. The yalert sentiment
on this point IL well shown In the following from
the Shubuta Messenger:
W. have have been paying something like n
half million dollars annually to educate the
negro; TO show his gratitude he never loses an
opportunity to slap us in the face. Arc we do |
Ing this bece use we believe IL is right, because |
we believe IL Is best for the negro-or because
we are afraid Of the North Ne men OF his
beautiful Southland, will ye longer submit 10
having your substance wasted. your State bank.
ruptedl. to educate 4 people incapable OF moral
elevation, a people that prove by their every act
that they are the enemies OF the white people |
Awake before il is TOO late"