The American Missionary — Volume 37, No. 5, May, 1883Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 37, No. 5, May, 1883
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
Within the last four or five years, the temperance question has in
one form or another been brought before the people of Mississippi
with some prominence. The revised code is emphatic in the following
points: the sale of vinous or spirituous liquor is forbidden
except under a license, at least two hundred dollars; the sale to
minors is strictly prohibited under severe penalties; the sale of
liquor on Sunday is made unlawful, as also is the keeping open on
that day of the bar or place where liquors are sold. Two years
ago a State temperance convention was called at Jackson. This was
an intelligent body of men representing nearly every county in
the state. It adjourned without accomplishing a great deal, but
the animus of the body was strongly in favor of a constitutional
prohibitory amendment. Being an initiative movement, however, on
the ground of expediency the final action was conservative.
As everywhere, the liquor men are active and shrewd, gaining over
to their side many an ignorant and unwary voter. Their strong
point of influence with the colored people is connected with the
attachment of the latter to the free public school system. No
institution is more fondly cherished by any class of people in
our land than the free school system of the South by the negro
race. The State constitution provides that “all moneys received
for licenses granted for the sale of intoxicating liquor” shall
be applied toward a common school fund. The schools, indeed, are
in large part supported by this means. Liquor men accordingly put
the case thus: Prohibit the manufacture and sale of liquor in this
State and you cut off the support of the common schools.
In one county in the State the sale of intoxicating drinks is
entirely prohibited by the local authorities, and there is at
least one town outside of that county under a like restraint.
At the present time there is very little doing for the cause
throughout the State. It does not as yet enter into the sphere of
politics, unless prospectively in slight degree. Nothing is seen
in the leading papers relative to the subject as a matter of State
interest. Occasionally we hear of a lecturer speaking for the
cause, or rarely of some local movement in the way of organized
effort.
The foregoing is believed to be a fair representation of the public
mind and movement in relation to the subject. In general the
colored people are easily influenced in favor of temperance. They
are ready for the work as grain for the harvest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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