The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-08-04
THE TEMPERANCE IssCe.

Aduress from Citzeno OF Columbia to tho
People OF South Carolina, Proposing n
state Convention In September next to
Consider and Urge n Plan of Action.
AZ a meeting held on the 2Gth Jul,.
Dy the joint committee Of the temperance
organizations and citizens of Columbia
the following address and plan ior the
calilng OF q convention was unanimously
adopted:
To the Citizens Of South Gurolina:
The enormity of the evils resulting
from the unrestricted use of iptoxicatine
liquors-evils which affect every class
and condition of society and imperil
every interest Of our social. moral and
political system-has become apparent
! to every citizen Of our State who has
| given even casual consideration To the
subject.
!he press, the pulpit, the Julgec from
their nigh official Places, the records of
crime and of panperism, the languishing
industries end the suffering women and
Children u the State have borne their
uhimrea-hablc testimony to these evils,
and In terms of eloquent and indignant
pathos they call loudly for relief. The
power. r.ul appeals from all these sources
nave not Teen without good results, and
We gratefully recognize that much has
been done Ill awakening public senti.
ment to the necessity for effort to coun.
teract the evils and remove their prime
cause.
The recent Act of the Legislature pro.
! hlbiting the traffic outside Of iucorpora
| ted towns and villages has already been
marked by the most gratifying results in
every county where its provisions have
been enforced, and there has followed
| directly and Immediately therefrom n
marked improvement in the moral char
acter and material condition of the com.
munity, and the correctness Of the policy
of prohibition has been fully corrobora
ted and confirmed.
1t is true, however, that, in spite of
the power of law and the appeals to rea.
son and conscience which have been
called forth by the public interest in this
subject, both the law and public scnti-
mcnt are i'll some places openly set at
defiance by the comparatively smaN class
; who would make merchandise of human
misery and spoil the dearest interests of
human, society if only they may enrich
themselves thereby.
In no single instance has q body of
CITIZENS given expression to desire that
the law OF the last Legislature ought To
be relaxed or repealed; while, on the
contrary, SO well satisfied are the people
everywhere of the benefits which result
from Its enforcement that in the few
cases where its provisions have been
cvaded or disregarded there comes up an
imperative demand for its rigid enforce
ment,. AL the law and peace officers
nave been constrained by that ror popul
TO pursue the violators to the extreme
penalty of the law. No license system
can be satisfactory, for 80 long as the
law discriminates in dealing With this
traffic between one person and another
and one place and another, it is yulnera.
Bile to the objection which will ALWAYS
be made against class legislation, and
engenders spirit of sympathy with the
class whose rights are supposed to be
invaded, and rendering it difficult to
convict them of violations where severe
pains and penalties would be the result.
BESIDES, the very object of the lava
protection OF those communities who ap-
prove OF and desire its provisions-is de-
ieated by the failure to make these pro-
Visions general and uniform. The Irn.
hibltion OF the traffic in the country
may, and nquestionably, rs is shown by
the testimony, does result in good, but
much OF the good possible under its pro-
visions is lost if, from the neighborinp
town or village, the supply is made al
most IS accessible as if it was to be had
at every cross roads store. But it NAV
be said that the Incorporated towns have
IL IN their power to prohibit the traffic
Dy their own action, and then the rene.
dy Is within their reach, and that addi-
tional legislation is not needed. Perhaps
II In every city, town and village in South
Carolina where the traffic prevails to. day
the ISSUE could be made free from any
local or political or party complications
ana tree from the cor ting influences
winch always attend exciting popular
elections, it would be safe to affirm that
the remedy would be most effcctually
applied in this ,rdy. But while the
friends OF prohibition affirm and conf
IDENTITY believe that such trial ,could re-
suit IN success, yet on account of some
political complications which would in
eVitabiy arise to disturb the balance and
,,m!peril the integrity Of the present po-
iltlcai power, we believe success in this
way would be purchased at so great q
terests as to justify the friends of prohi-
5ition in refusing to assume 40 fearful n
responsibility and only to seek the rem.
edy IN this way as q last resort, and when
the effort to obtain it by legislative ac-
ton proves to be hopeless.
AS result of careful review of the
present status of the question we affirm
and believe,
lst. That the sentiment Of the people
OF South Carolina is overwhelmingly in
favor of the prohibition of the traffic in
alcoholic liquors as q beverage, as a
means OF suppressing crime, pauperism
! and the innumerable evils, social. mo, al
and political, which everywhere attend
the indulgence in strong drink, and as a
means Of improving the moral, intellec.
tual and material condition of our whole
people.
End. That if this be the prevailing
sentiment il is the duty Of our fellow.
citizens everywhere TO give it expression
in sucii form and through such agencies
as shall make it effective in demanding
such legislation IS shall provide the rem.
edies for the evils which cndanrer our
civilization from this source.
Sd. That as the most practical method
OF calling out and giving expression to
the public sense on this most moment.
Gus issue, we invite the fellow citizens
everywhere throughout the State to ap-
point from among them discreet and
worthy men, to assemble in conference
or convention ut Columbia on the 9th
day of September next, to consider and
advise what legislative action should be
taken by the Legislature at its next ses-
sion5 to eflectualiy suppress the traffic