The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1873-06-28
S. G.
Saturday Morning, June %. 1873.
The Good OF the Tupper Law.

Cooke for. He has addressed himself to
the task of promoting temperance and
good behavior among the people, by.
urging the enforcement in his circuit OF
"he. is known as the "Tappe. law"
This law requires that the vendor of
ardent spirits shall have tavern license
and keep rooms and beds for travellers,
and stabling and provender for horses.
and, If enforced, would break up ninety
nine out OF hundred OF thoae shops
and bar-rooms, where men squander tho
money which should go to the support of
their wives and children, and where in in
t'xicating and maddening drinks. health,
intelligence and honor are wrecked, and
the seeds planted which bear the fruit OF
murders, violence and every foul crime
known to our criminal court records.
We grieve over the sad change which
has como upon our country, the terrible
decentralization which meets US on every
hand, and the slack views now entertain
ed or professed by men who formerly
acted upon the principles and instincts
OF honor. We Justly contemn those
miserable miscreants who have orept in
amongst Us, spreading tide OF oorrup-
ton, prohigaoy, robbery and stealing
under or without the forms OF law.
Politicians who can increase the public
debt $8.000,0cQ or s9.00O.0 900 in the
course of four of five years, without
having single thing to show in the way
OF public improvements; who have
bankrupted, blighted and tainted all the
institutiougof the State. are. of course,
source of unmitigated evil, and should
be universally secuted, and will be held
In everlasting contempt. Bot there is
another evil Of immense magnitude. ia
which our own people are equally in
volved with others, Many have forgot
ten the duties they owe their dependent
families. and all the charities of home
and kindred; and have turned their
backs upon Che decencies, amenities and
ooartesies Of life. This degradation of
caaracter, this ss;ruin of talents. this
wtetchedness Of families, this crime to.
wards children, are the effects of alco-
holie drink. mostly imbibed at public
places. There is no good in scolding,
md we wonid treat the habit OF using
Intoxicating liquors to excess with every
judicious lenieney. In many cases it is
Il disease inherent in the constitution.
In others, it is the result of generous
feelings, and Of nature rich in social
and personal charms. Those who are
the soul of good fellowship are the most
apt to be betrayed into it. It sometimes
becomes almost Irresistible through force
Of circumstances. as formerly in the
army service, in sorrow, poverty, distress
and bereavement. 1t may in many ways
be excused, but can never be justified.
As we'are. cast measurably in the mould
OF surrounding circumstances, il makes
vast difference whether they favor or
discourage the, use of ardent spirits. A
little country, store, advantageousiy
placed in the midst OF a population
prone to guzzling, can in the fall season,
perhaps. sell 1000 gallons of vile whis-
key at more than 100 per cent. profit.
The dealer pockets $1,000 or more, and
the poor wretohes who give him their
earnings soon come TO vent and sickness,
and their families are pinched for the
necessariee OF life, till the next season Of
crops. But for the l;quo. shop their
condition would be good and prosperous.
They work faithfully. they make crops.
but they squander the proceeds foolish
ly, and wretchedness is the consequence.
As in the country, 80 it is in the towns
and villages: In these the resorts for
drinking are little more gilded and re-
aned. but the only object is to make
them more attractive to the thoughtless
and unwary. Thousands drop into
these pitfalls and are ruined.
Now, the Tupper law imposes o con-
diticn upon the vending of what Charles
Lamb calls liquid damnation, for which,
in the absence OF something better, we
ought 70 be thankful r. amoupto n