The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-05-21
Favor of True I Temperance Thro

In Il letter written some time ago
to Mayor A. H. Boyden of Salisbury,
who hadasked for an expression of
his views on the prohibition bill,
Hon. c. B. Watson gave his reasons
for opposing the measure in letter
of some length from which the follow
ing is taken:
ANGLO SAXON PEOPLE JEAL-
GUS OF THEIR RIGHTS.
Our race has ever been Jealous of
it's individual rights and liberties.
Loving liberty, they have been ready
to fight and die in its defense. Guided
by~these principles, it has established
civilized government and religious
liberty now exist. 1t has outstrip-
ped@and left far behind it all other
races of men. The use of intoxicants
has, perhaps, destroyed a small per-
centage of its people annually, but
in the .meantims it has multiplied
and replenislisd the earth, each gen
Grafton growing better, stronger and
nobler during all this lapse OF time.
1t is a race of men that is ever ready
to be taught, to be persuaded, to be
led along upward paths and never
driven. Twill your and won't
your to an Anglo-Saxon are always
pleasant phrases. "You shall' or
You shan't" cause his blood to
Jingle.
do not believe in stringent, pro-
hibitory measures. / have been led
to believe, from my earliest youth,
that sumpuary legislation, is un-
Democratic. un-Republican, ud-Amer-
lean and contrary to the spirit of our
institutions. Under the training
| have voted the Democratic ticket
since arriving at the age of maturity
as did my ancestors for two genera
tions before me-
| Believing all these things, as do,
/ do not hesitate to say to you that
| oppose the ratification by the peo-
pie OF the prohibition bill passed by
the late extra session of the General
Assembly, and to give you some OF
my reaons.
A DANGEROUS FUSION.
| The question involved always has
and always will cause dangerous
fusion OfImay use the world between
Church and State. The minister of
the Gospel may stand in the pulpit
and preach intemperance, patience,
goodness, brotherly kindness and
and charity and receive a hearty
amen from all classes occupying
pews. He cannot go out and active
ly engage in the discussion of any
| question to be voted on by the peo-
pie, where there is a division of senti-
ment, without stirring up opposition
from men both good and bad. In all
such elections he will be looked upon
by many as carrying the pulpit into
politics. But that is not the worst
feature, The worst feature is that
1 these campaigns always have and al
ways willinvite ambitious politicians
in the pulpit 1t gives them an op'
/ portuninity to stand up before all
excited people engaged in the prom O.
ton of what they believe to be a
most religious cause They are ready
to believe anything he says and to
stand by all his alleged statistics,
which, if true, mean THAT the human
race is rapidly going to destruction
none of which if true.
These ambitious politicians, after
! joining in the crusade, after mount
ing the cold water Wagon, and usual
ly rushing for a front seat, announce
that whatever they have been in the
past that they now cut the brid ges
behind them, when in fact they care
nothing for the bridges behind them,
but are seeking bridge in front OF
them over which they may pass to be
safely landed in some honorable and
lucrative office. These politicians fire.
quently express fears that the course
they are pursuing may destroy them
politically, and thus seem to be max
ing martyrs of themselves. All this
leads to practice of hypocrisy, the
vilest sin that man is heir to. Have
we not seen this same class ofmen al
most Immediately after the end of an
exciting campaign, on what is claim
ed to be great moral question, an
nouncing themselves as candidates for
political Offices, and don't they write
innumerable letters to temperance
men asking their support and claim
ing the same on the part they took
and the great sacrifice they made?
During these fights every man oppos-
ing these people, however honest may
be his motive, is ridicuIed or abused
as an unworthy man.
NOT GIVEN THEIR RIGHTS.
The people OF the State, with the
exception of ore or two counties,
have never been permitted to vote
on this>question of prohibition. They
did not vote on the Watts bill or the
Ward bill nor were the provisions Of
either discussed before the people by
the members of the General Assem-
bly, when asking for votes. There are
thousands OF men.in North Carolina
who have silently acguiesced during
>fthe trial of the measures contained
i'm those bills while not endorsing
them. Especially is this SO as to the
latter. A great majority OF the peo'
pie of North Carolina believe that
the people of this State will continue
in spite OF all legislation through al
the years to come, to indulge in slim
uiating drinks, most of them temper.
ately, a small percentage intemper.
ately. But the prohibitionist says
I that this is true as to men who are
able to send out of the State and i'm
port liquors for private use, but tina,
they want to get at the man who il
not able to thus furnish himself in
order that he may spend the money
that he would spend for drink in the
support of his family.
1 believe the true policy of this
State should be to provide laws that
will regulate and control the manu-
facture and sale of Intoxicating
liquors. Not only regulate but in
spect and prevent adulteration by
harmful drugs and chemicals. The
ratification of this prohibition bill
l