The Tupelo journal., 1904-07-01

intellectual destruction of the
young men, both white and black,
of the state, should join in the
effort to suppress both of these
evils.
It is Time to Call a Halt.
A physician of Vickburg, wri-
ting in the Memphis Commercial
Appeal says hat cocaine is n of
the great causes of so much crime
among negroes. There is no doubt
mnch truth in this. The cocaine
habit among negroes is growing at
a fearful rate. The drug is much
cheaper than whiskey and the eff
feet Is more seductive. 1t greatly
increases the muscular strength
and endurance, creates a sense of
power, quickens the imagination,
destroys responsibility and arouses
a beastly desire that must be salts
fed, whatsoever be the cost. The
effect Of this drug cause negroes
and many whites to form the CO.
calne habit, which fually destroys
them. There is no doubt that the
drug is killing more negroes than
any disease or any other habit, and
it would be strange, with the eff
fects it produces, if it did not re-
suit in some of the beastly crimes
which are recorded in the news
papers every day. But even if this
were not true, the sale of cocaine
should be abolished. 1t is n of
the greatest causes of degeneracy
and ruin to the negro.
Many drug stores and other
dealers reap great profit on cocaine
sold to negroes. Many plantation
stores furnish it as part Of their
supplies. 1t is thus through the
white man that the negro gets this
poison which dehauches and de-
stroys him. If this is the boosted
age Of civilization that we claim it
to be why is it that there is not a
law to protect the benighted and
dependent negro from this death
poison instead Of letting him have
it from our own hands?
There has been in recent years a
fearful increase among the negroes
of this evil habit which destroys
both body aud soul, and a stop
should be put to it.
While cocaine is destroying the
negroes, there is a fearful spread
of another great evil among the
white people. This evil is coco,
cola, which is numbering its vic
TINS by thousands. This evil de-
stroys both the moral and physical
man, and plunges him a wreck for
two worlds into the blackness of
despair. We have seen men in
the glory of health and vlgor,
strength and intellect yield to this
fearful destroyer and fall, and
then in the fearful state of lost
manhood, a physical, mental and
moral wreck, go down, down,
down to destruction. Is there no
way to throttle this destroyer in
it's awful work of ruin?
Young man, avoid this fearful
stuff as you would the poison OF
death. If you expect to accom-
plish anything you cannot do it
and drink coco-cola. If you ex-
pect to get anything out Of life
that is worth the while you must
let this vile decoction of poison
alone or you will have to reap the
bitter fruits of disappointment and
blasted hopes. If you want to de-
stroy your manhood there is no
way to do it which is more sure
than this evil habit. If you will
add to this the smoking of cigar
cites, it will not take long to do
the work.
Amid the hum of machinery and
the rush of trade of our material
prosperity we little think or dream
or seem to care for many things
which are Of the utmost import
ance, but we should remember
that man shall not live by bread
alone, and awaken to a realization
of the danger Of some f the great
evils that threaten our civilization.
We have outlawed the saloon, bu:
we have forgotten that there are
other evils that are just as de-
9 ty,,ot;r,o IN tboir uo,.k IF rnin and