Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1874-03-05
Correspondence of the Yorkville Enquirer.
THE WHISKY WAR IN TENNESSEE.

The ladies have begun the temperance cru
SADIE in this State-the crusade that has made
such sensation and been so effective in sup
pressing the traffic in Ohio. The crusade
opened in Greenville-a town of a thousand
inhabitants, on the Virginia road, above here
and has been raging with quiet fury since.
The ladies there are q determined set of fe-
males, and can pray as long and sing as loud,
as any in Ohio or elsewhere.
Now, Greenvile is the home of Andrew
Johnson, and many people are deeply exercis-
ed in their minds as to what that great man
may have to say about it. Up to this writing,
he has not been interviewed, and we do not
know whether he thinks the women's move
ment could stand, if measured by the square
and compass ofthe constitution, or not. That
is the measure A. j. applies to everything,
and if it is found wanting, down it goes-in
his estimation. While we have no word from
A. j. on this great and important question, it
is reasonable to suppose that he cannot find
anything in the constitution of the United
States giving ladies the right to sing and pray
in front of free mans shop, and is therefore
opposed to it. Besides, Andy likes toddy
himself sometimes and, while he often takes
sugar in it, he might object to prayer or song.
If interviewed on the subject, he would no
doubt say that all these things are good in
their places, but that they did not 60 we'll to-
gether, when all taken at single dose.
When the women's crusade began, there
were three saloons in Greenville, one of which
has been swept away by the power Of prayer.
This was Ross's, and, although he held out
manfuly for time, he finally caved in and
sent his fiery fluid down to Knoxville. This
caused great rejoicing in Greeuville, and the
remnant of his grog-shop was accompanied to
the depot with thanksgiving and joy. The
dribs of liquor from this fragment Of a groce-
ry will be given warm welcome at Knox
Vile, where the old soakers are fortifying
their insdes against the coming tempest of
prayer; for it is no secret that the fair ladies
contemplate raid there.
Two saloons in Greenville-those of Goss
& Campbell and Mrs. Ward-hold out against
the praying enemy, Chow strange that soundsD
and manifest no disposition to surrender.
They are each closely besieged, from the early
hours of morning until far into the night.
The old soakers cannot get their usual "eye-
opener" nor midday horn, and are very sor-
rowful in consequence They are sorrowful,
because they are sober. 1t is novelty not
pleasant II, perchance, they slip into one of
the remaining grop.shops by the back way
sneaking through slyly open door, like a
thiefin the night-they are met at the very
bar by the praying ladies' The glass is filled,
but no sooner does the toper-slave essay to
raise it to his parched lips, than gentle hand
is laid upon his arm, and he is asked in tone,
and with tears Satan could not resist, to pass
the beverage by. What position is this for
a soaker of forty years standing! In front of
him-within his very gtasp-is the innocent
looking but death-dealing fluid his morbid in
sides crave with a craving no man knows, ex-
cept topers, and resting on his halfuplifted
arm is fair woman's hand, and in her eyes,
tears, while from her sweet lips come the
words "don't don't for Gods sake, don't!'
Surely, the man who can resist this, and swal-
low the liquor must have cast-iron stomach,
steel nerves, a hard heart, blunted sensibili-
ties, and feet that already take hold on hell.
The popular sentiment in Greenville is al
together on the side of the ladies. The min
listers are for them, the lawyers are for them,
and the merchants are for them. The saloon
lists have tried to get the lawyers to apply for
writs of Injunction, but not one of them will
touch the case.
The ladies 60 to the remaining saloons and
remain until dark. There are two parties of
them-one at Mrs. Wards, and one at Goss
& Campbell's. When it rains they are provi-
ded with umbrellas, and in front of Mrs.
Wards they have temporary structure built
to shield them from the weather Here they
remain all day-long singing, praying and
reading the Scriptures. Every passer-by is
surrounded and asked to sign the pledge.
With twenty or more fair ladies around him
at once, all pleading their prettiest, and show
ing now and then tear-how can fellow
help signing? A man who would rudely
push by and insolently refuse to sign, would
deserve to have all the whisky he wants for
the next fifteen years. At the end ofthat time
he would not want any more.
Mrs. Wards saloon is at the end of the