Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1909-02-16
THE PROSPEROUS And SOBER SOUTH
BY BISHOP WARREN A. GAMBLER.

onroant Of farming. In Kansas, he says,
that he found the farmers were now lend
ing money at per cent on Kansas City
securities whereas few years ago they
were borrowing money from Kansas CITY
at per cent In Texas he says the farm
ers have on deposit in the banks 1851 0O0.-
600. OF course this DISTINGUISHED -.-tcb-
man did not have prohibition In mind
when he was making these statements;
but when I read them in the Express
thought of them in connection with the
fact that so many farmers are prohiDl-
tionists They know what is good for
them. The farmers of Kansas have lived
under a prohibition law for number OF
years and two-thirds of Texas, also, IS
under prohibition 1t is safe to say that
the agriculturists of Texas are over
whelmingly prohibitionists, and they have
1884, 900, 600 in bank.
It now seems that the bill to add to the
Constitution of Texas a prohibition
amendment can not command the two
thirds majority in the legislature which is
required to submit it to the people, al
though only a few votes less than two
thirds majority have gone on record in
favour of il. The defeat of the submits
sion bill with so large majority voting
for it will fan the flame of prohibition.
In the near future the great state of Tex
as viii be a dry state. Indeed all the
South is going dry. Florida and Louisi-
ana probably will fall in line last. SortG-
ern tourists and half-year citizens wa
delay prohibition in Florida, andn foreign
influence will postpone it in LeuisiaLa.
The native Southerners in those states are
for closing the saloons now The North
ern tourists in Florida hold "the Florida
crackers" in contempt; but in all the ele-
ments Of virtue and good citizenship the
Crackers" are infinitely superior to the
dissipated and degenerate set which af-
fects to look down on them.
The moral awakening on the temper
ance question and kindred issues has gone
beyond the Rio Grande and is beginning
to be felt in the neighboring republic OF
Mexico.
The Mexican congress is taking up the
subject of bull-fighting, and ii now seems
probable that this barbarous and brutal
izing sport will be abolished in Mexico at
an early day. A bill has already passed
forbidding professional bull-fghters from
other countries to enter the Republic. This
is a step in the right direction. The
measure Is aimed at the coming of bull
fighters from Spain, where the most OF
them are trained, and it will eliminate
in the ultimate abolition of the bloody
pastime entirely.
A movement looking TO the introduction
of temperance instruction in the public
schools Of the Republic Is also Tar ao-
vanced 1t has met with pronounced APP
prevail and active support in the highest
political circles. 1t is said that no less
person than President Diaz synpathizes
with the purpose to teach in the schools
the scientific objections to the use of al
coholic beverages am not able TO con-
firm this statement, but during the days
which have been spending here in Lar
edo, on the border of Mexico, have heard
II from both Mexicans and Americans.
II such instruction is given In the
schools of Mexico it win contribute no
little to temperance reform; for the use OF
alcoholic liquors as beverages can not be
scientifically defended. The theory that
liquor-drinlting promotes health is a de-
fusion of the palate and superstition OF
the appetite. If brandy tasted like castor
oil no man would entertain for Q moment
the absurd notion that it was good as a
beverage, and If wine were as distasteful
as EPSON salts its use as a health-giving
beverage would be ridiculed.
But / digress. 1 sat down to write OF
the increasing sobriety and the advance
ing prosperity of the South, but have
followed the lines of reform and the pro-
gress of good until / have wandered
across the Rio Grande into Mexico.
must stop for the present. In another
letter I may have something TO say OF
Mexican matters.