The Newberry herald. [volume] (Newberry, S.C.) 1865-1884, 1881-01-26
The Battle Fought and Won.
The Laurensville Herald on the Subject.

The result of the municipal elec-
ton on last Tuesday marked an lw-
portant epoch iu the history Of our
town. Never was there greater lu-
terest manifested in any previous elec
tion. Many Of the friends OF pro-
hibitioD were early at the polls aud
worked with comucndable Zeal while
some of those on the other side ulau-
ifessed an enthusiasm and desperation
worthy a better cause. The futile
and sil'I effort of casting double bal
lots was resorred to by the "wets."
But it was Of no avail. The colored
voters, upon whom they had hitherto
relied, reuounced the rum-seller's bad
cause and voted 90 the side Of peace,
law and order, for which they deserve
great credit, and while all the better
class Of the colored voters deserve
praise for the Independent and u'auly
manner in which they cast their suf
frage, We deem it but just to particu-
larize in favor of George Giles. Robert
Satterwhite and Henry Bailey, who
manifested zeal and activity at once
commendable and praiseworthy. The
victory was complete, aud, we fondty
hope, permanent.
In order to give our readers some
idea of the enormous amount of H.
quor sold in this town during the
past liceuse year, We append the fol
lowing facts aud figures: One bar
room proprietor sold fourteen titou-
sand dollars worth Of liquor during
said tiue, up to the 10th lust, aud
realized q net profit Of sj:r thousand
fve Nundred dollars from the sales
thereof T.! tbs is the business of only
one bar,room. There are ssuen in
the place. Estimating the other six
at only half said amount, which is
low, will give u tota! of fifty si.r
thousand dollars worth Of the use
less, impoverisbing, rulnous, death
causing stuff that has been bought
and drunk in our town d, < the
short period of less than one year
Enormous, astounding, not to say dis
graceful. This, in a community CT
churches, of boasted refinement, Of iu-
telligence, of religious and literary
culture! Is it not appalling? Aud
what has the poor slave Of the i1e-
briate's cup to show for this improv-
ident, vreckless outlay Nothing,
literally nothing save poverty, rags,
shame aud disgrace, with impaired
constitutions, mental and physical dis
ability. On the other hand compare
this picture with that Of the ruu'
seller, and behold the contrast. While
the former has suffered in every way,
lost health aud property, or bis
scant, hard earnings, and in many
cases. even Self.respect-the latter has
received handsome iucome, and
growu comparatively rich by the
reckless extravaganza and ruin of his
customer.
The books at the depot show that
tvo Hundred barrels Of echisky aud
one hundred and f0rigt0ur casks of
wine aud cases Of beer have been
shipped to this place, by rail, during
the past year. In addition to this,
not less than ore hundred barrels
have been brought here from Green
vile aud other places. But we will
take only the two hundred barrels Of
whisky (Without estimating the wine
and beer) shipped here BY rail, which,
averaging forty gallons to the barrel,
aggregate eight thousand gallons.
This amount sold By the drink, and
in small quantities, would of itself
amount to the snug little sum of over
thirty thousand dollars! The three
hundred barrels of whisky, which
have been gulped down the throats of
the liquor-kilers, if placed eud agaiast
end, would reach froul the depot to
the public square-a distance of more
than 800 yards or by taking the
slaves Of these 800 barrels would
build fence nearly mile in length.
But tEaDks TO the determined will
of the voters of our town We have
rid ourselves Of the blightiug incubus
of the run shop for at least one year,
which has suggested these "dry'
thoughts
We think Laurens is free.
We think this closing of the sa-
looms is the dawn Of a new era Of
prosperity for our town and County.
We think the gentlemen elected
will faithfully see that Laurens is
kept thoroughly, perfectly, totally,
and entirely dry.
We think our country friends can
now safely come to town without
dread Of their lives or danger Of a
row.
We think our ladies can walk the
streets without being greeted with
chorus of oaths and drunken epithets.
We think our colored people are
now more secure in the enjoyment
of all their rights than ev ver before.
We think the hearts Of many clti-
zens throughout our County beat
with q warner and more hopeful
throb.
We think the prayers of many
devoted wife, mother aud sister have
now heen answered