Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-05-26
The subject of oduontion is most init.

chNoreu ot tho druhRard grow up IN lllt.
eraoy and vice. The dram shop destroys
tho school house. Ignorance and degroda-
ton among the youth of any place bear o
noticeable proportion to the rum and gin
that are drunk. We oannot have good
school by the side of drunkerie. Tho
two cannot co-exist. We must shut up our
schools or our dram shops. It needs no
spirit Of prophecy to forctcll the future of
| people that allows drunkenness and illit-
eraoy to do their worst and to go hand in
| hand unrobukcd.
| have not spoken of the arguments in its
religious bearings. All men are agreed that
drinking habits arc destructive to truo
religion. All edmit that the Bible de-
nounces the most terrible penalties of tho
| drunkard, that its warnings against wine
bibbing arc positive and severe. Those
who quote, or misquote, Paul's advice to
Timothy are not regarded as honestly be.
icvng that the Bible justiGcs the common
use of vine, but ss wrestling tho Scriptures
to their own selfish Qualifications. The
soundest advocates Of total abstinence take
the ground which the Apostle Paul took in
| reference to certain meats. "If meat mako
my brother to offend, will eat no meat
while the world standeth, lest mako nv
brother to offend"
The example Of our Saviour in furnish
ing vino at the marriage feast is often re-
ferred to. Some have treated the question
unwieely and weakly, as though the tenn
pcranoe argument would be abolished by the
admission that it may have been real wine
But there are very many things which he
did, which are not for us to follow. His
mode of life in Palestine eighteen centuries
hSo IL J... l.
modo of travelling, keeping the Jewish
tion of the sacrament Of the supper, and
many other like things, We do not even
think of as binding upon us under our
altered circumstances.
AS his Disciples, We have perfect oonf-
dcnco in him, that he did just what was
proper md right for him to do under those
would find the right way of understanding
him. Whoever has his self sacrificing
spirit, aud is ready to do anything for the
salvation Of men, will not be led astray by
an unnatural or false Interpretation Of any
of his acts But those who wish, doubts
less, will wrcst that Scripture of Cana to
their own destruction, "as they do also other
Scriptures
w hoS poW uto GhC IeSsuIo VI C6pCTlCuCC
in these two prohibitory Statcs7 How do
the people themselves view tho law7 What
is the trend of legislation with relation to
it? The people Of these States ore fairly
intelligent people. Where can you find a
more Intelligent, Industrious population,
than tho farmers of Maine aud Vermont?
They are not embarrassed by largo for
cign population, with tho exception of
fn.U citinu And Of kho lor 81
Of twenty to thirty years, the legislation
despite all tho power Of tho liquor interest
of Massachusetts,, grow more and moro
stringent.
The Vermont Legislature at it's last scs-
sion passed law making every place where
intoxlcnnts arc sold, or given away, public |
nuisance, and requiring the officers Of JUS
tioe to close it. Whether it be hotel |
apothecary shop, boarding house, or store
Of any kind, it must be shut up, on com.
plant, and shut up as public nuisance.
The modes and means of executing the law
arc provided, and it has gonc into operation
with excellent effect.
In Maine there is movement to have the |
prohibitory law inserted into the Constilu.
tiop, which will make it impossible for any |
political party to tamper with it. Thea if
any change shall be proposed it must be
referred to the votes Of tho entire people of
the State.
The many false reports put in circulation
about these States and their prohibitory
laws have an easy explanation aud q sufficient
cause. The manufacture of alcoholic drinks |
is the greatest industry Of tho United
States But it trembles at tho possible |
awakening of public sentiment. It is bent |
upon securing tho abolition of these laws.
While they exist it is determined to limit
their influence. In this, its urholy war;
the end justifcs tho means. 1t would be
too much to require those whose business it
is to profit from the destruction of the
family, and from the misery and distress Of
women and children, to have any regard
to truth. Falsohood is as natural to them
as the mixing of poisons in their unholy
preparations. @
While VIC feel thatsthe contest has only
commenced, and that VIC have to fight tho
greatest enemy to God and man that earth
has eyor known, wo see progress, we feel
sure Of final victory.
Kansas has done nobIy. Every State
that joins in will add to the force Of that move
ment that shall finally reach tho impure
halls of Congress, cleanse them of their
filth, nterdct the fatal manufacture and
save tho land.
If my letter has marks of haste, you will
know how to excuse it. 1t has been writ
ten under pressure.
Your old and and faithful FREUD,
CYRUs HAML1N.
Middlebury, March IL, 1881. @
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