The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-03-23
ne Press and Banner
By Hugh Wilson and H. T. Wardlaw.
Wednesday, MarCh %, 1881.
The TEN ,erance Question.

The Associate Reformed Pye,6yirfAul in its
local column seen : to be engaged in running
q tit against DR.. ro>by. Ir. Crosby, us VIC
understand it, is IL learned and piouS preacher
who is not regarded rs orthodox on TIE sub
jcct of temperance. Under certain circuin.
stances lie i .cS not Object to :hc moderate use
OF whisky. For this reason, II appears TO us.
the Zen:ou advocates of total abstinence
would injurc, by implication, both his useful
ne s and his good name. We fear the course
pursued by those who would crush out 1ir
frosty, indicates the existence OF a spirit Of
Intolerance which will not be effective Tor
good. DR.. Crosby holds opinions from which
we dissent in toto. and lie stands q most alone
from the clergy in his views on this import
in. subject, but we accord to him that sheer
ity OF conviction and honesty Of purpose,
which We claim for others who may differ
from him. We claim to be as temperate in
the use Of whisky rs any man living, and we
heartily join in any conmcndabie work in
the cause Of temperance, but we shall never
join q crusade to prosecute those whose con-
~yivt!ons viii! 10; ENABLE them to see H. We do.
For our own part, we are inclined to tie
opinion that there are entirely too many di-
rect personal assaults upon liquor dealers,
und too little attention has been paid to the
warning OF our people against the treat dam
ger attendant upon even the modes ate use OF
whisky. The way to advance the cause OF
temperance Is to instil that mora! conviction
upon the mind and heart which will guard us
from becoming a victim to that sin which
doth so easily beset US. Last year from every
section OF the State there was u demand for Il
law against the carrying OF concealed deadly
but in 70 instance have we seen a
dcnunciation 0! the dealer in such weapons.
They devoted their energies entirely TO the
necessity OF an cd itcmcnt Of q most dcmur,ll-
iLing p actice. and now II the friends OF tenl-
prrance will devote their energies to the adj
vancement OF q Cause upon the success Of
which the prosperity Of our country SO much
depends, they will no doubt have the Pleas
ure OF enjoying the frui,ion OF their !ondcst
hopes. Let them cease to abuse those who
differ in opinion from them, and above all,
let these worse than idiotic TRADES against
whisky dealers stop. 1t IL the practice of
tipping that we are 10 preach against and
not the man who sells the whisky.
We think the ladies OF every section OF the
county should send their petitions to tho Rep
]rcsenlatives in the Legislature, appealing to
them for the enactment OF q law prohibiting
the sale Of whisky in every part Of the State,
md we think there are very few members OF
the General Assembly who would disregard
such on appeal. At the last meeting OF the
Legislature many good laws were enacted,
and we have no doubt our Representatives.
wou!d cnac: the prohibitory law-if we only
asked them to do SO. Let those who are real
~ In earnest In their patriotic desire to bcnc.
ut every citizen in the State, set to work In Il
proper way to effect this purpose. We have
ample time to discuss the matter, and we VEN
ture the assertion that IL this persecution OF
the liquor dealers is stopped many OF them
will Join the Temperance cause and be rs anS-
Gus for n prohibitory law MS the most Jealous
advocates Of Temperance. Many men whoscll
whisky indisputnbly are good citizens, and in
many matters pertaining Ia the public vel
fare arc Jealous ard patriotic. This being
true they OF course see the evils OF drinking
whisky, but fec! that ~ long IS The selling Of
liquors Is sanctioned by the solemn farms Of
law that they can. if they choose, participate
IN the profits Of the trade.