The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1877-06-07
ILLICIT WHISKEY TRAFFIC.
An Appeal to the Citizens of Anderson
County from the Sons Of Temperance.

at recent meeting of Hopewell Division,
No. 95, Sons of Temperance, the following
address to the citizens of Anderson County
was adopted, and forwarded to us for publ
cation. We commend it to the considera-
ton of our readers
To the Citizens of anderson County:
The great aim and object of the Sons of
Temperance is to annihilate the sale and
use, as beverage, of all intoxicating liquors,
whether malt or spirituous; and to the ac-
complishment of this end we feel in duty
bound to use every available means. Trust
ing that this avowal of our mission is
sufficient explanation for the presentation
of this address to the citizens of this County,
we desire to call the public attention to the
fact that there is in Anderson County at the
present time persons who are without the
authority or sanction of law, travelling in
wagons through the country retailing spiri-
tuous liquors to our citizens, which practice
is having very baleful influence, and if
it is allowed to be continued there is no
calculating the great injury our people will
sustain from it. 1t is not only violation
of the laws of our country, but it is work.
ing q great injury to the morals of society
it Is fast demoralizing all classes of our peo.
pie; it is great hindrance to the develop
ment of the agricultural resources of the
County; it affects seriously the educational
interest ne the white as well as the colored
race; it destroys the peace and quiet Of the
sections of country in which it prevails,
and this is in nearly every portion of our
County; it causes bloodshed and crime,
which brings with it additional expense to
our people; in word, it is the most prolific
source of trouble with which we are now
afflicted, and unless it can be checked by
some means or other will assuredly bring
County will not soon recover. Then, if
duty of every citizen of Anderson County,
male and female, to exert every effort in
their power to put down this illegal and
immoral business? How is this to be &C,
complished? 1t is said these persons can
not be detected by the. officers of the law,
but this is an assertion that cannot be estab-
lished, as very little effort has been made
to oyertake and bring them to justice. But
our people have in their power more efec-
tual and powerful means than the law, if
properly used and it is this power that we
desire to appeal to our citizens to exercise.
They can by ceasing to patronize. and en-
courage them render their business unprof-
table, and as soon as this is done it will
certainly be abandoned. Their support de-
pends solely upon the patronage of our
country people, and it is by them, too, that
the great evil is most seriously felt, and it
depends entirely upon them whether or
not these persons ale to be further encour-
aged in perpetuating and increasing the bad
influences ard results of this immoral and
pernicious traffic. Certainly, our people are
not so blind to their interests and well-being,
nd 1fSy nf ff5
ture generations, as not to see the inevitable
result of this business, il allowed to con-
tinue. Do not the fathers see and fear the
bad influences with which it surrounds their
SONS? Will they not, then, for the benefit
and well-being of society, use their inhu-
ence against it? We appeal to the noble
women-the mothers, wives, daughters and
sisters-to exert their every effort against
the further encouragement Of this illicit
traffic They have an influence superior to
that of all others, if judiciously used. Is
this not cause in which it can, with pro-
priety be exercised? May we not call upon
the ministers of the Gospel to proclaim
against it, and do all in their power to put
down the evil? 1t is most certainly work
ing an injury to the cause of christianity
its. influence is directly opposed to that of
the church, and not unfrequently brings re-
proach upon the great cause and principles
it represents The sin of intemperance is
condemned by the Bible, and shall not the
ministers of the Gospel use all the means in
their power to enlist the cooperation and
assistance of their respective churches in
putting it down. We appeal to all classes
and conditions of society to use its influence
against it, for its peace, well.being and
moral influence demands it.
We are satisfied that if our people would
reflect for moment upon the untold injury
they are sustaining daily from this illicit
traffic, they would not hesitate to withdraw
their patronage and support. Could they
realize the fact that the peace of communi-
ties and families are destroyed, agriculture
made improbable, and the extent of other
evils arising from it, they would then ac-
knowledge the necessity for it's suppression.
Nothing but evil can ever come of it, and
why should civilized people countenance
and encourage any business that is produc-
tive only of evil? We again appeal to all
the citizen of Anderson County to aid us in
our efforts to put down the traffic, if not by
connecting themselves with our order, then
by setting an example of sobriety, and by
discountenancing and dlscouraglng any
further patronage of these whiskey peadlers.
1t would be great victory for society, and
would conducc to the peace and prosperity
of the County. 1t is for the good of our
fellow-c creatures that we are laboring, and
in proportion to their assistance and encour-
agement will our efforts be successful. In
the accomplishment of the end in question
we need your assistance. We ask it. Shall
we have it,?