Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1881-08-11
Prohibition.

AS we anttoipateQ, tho vote In North Caro-
lima last Thursday resulted in crushing
defeat TO prohibition. The majority against
tho Act was greater than it's opponene
tonntcd on, being now estimated at from
Afty to seventy thousand in three fourths
vote Of the State. Though the measure was
admitted by both parties to be non political
and was oauvassed in that light, yet tho ne~
groes voted almost Gs a unit against it and
the whites Of both parties divided, a minority
Of the Democratic favcring the measure.
There nre in that State several hundred,
distilleries, large fruit orchards in many Sec
tions and generally q large surplus Of corn,
so that the pecuniary interests Of very many
united with their habits and tastes TO dofeat
the measure. There was there. too and is
hore feeling Of opposition to such law as
attempting to limit the liberties of tho people
in what they may drink or as to how thoy
may dispose Of their earnings. Whether we'll
founded or not this feeling exists, and With
many question Of policy arises among
Democrats about dividing the people and
perhaps losing control Of tho State Govern
ment.
With this result in North Carolina before
ns and the many objections to total prohibi-
tion in this State, it is easy to SEQ that like
measure hero would meet like fate upon q
popular vote. Wine growing is admitted to
be profitable. The ease and promptncss With
which France paid tho war tribute exacted
by Germany has been wonder and can only
be accounted for by her vino growing. It is
believed this section is adapted to grapes and
vineyards Of some extent are being projected
in various counties. The grape crop hero
has mover failed and our pooplo may mako it
leading industry at no distant day. It is
hardly probable they would prevent The
manufacture and sale of wine. The eamo is
true Of malt liquors and perhaps the free
making of these light drinks would 60 far to
diminish drunkenness. Apart from these VIZ
do not believe popular vote would DO cas-
for the total prohibition of the making and
sale of spirituous liquors, both on account of
policy, habits and self-interest. IF we arc
right in this it bchooves tho temperance
movement to look to the mitigation of the
evils and restriction Of tld sale Of liquor,
rather than its prohibition.
How can this be done2 AS we said last
week, by cutting off tho retail system and
allowing it's Sale by the quart or somc larger
quantity. Go to city and you will find it's
barrooms advertising all Kinds of tempting
drinks. such as the sherry cobblcr. brandy
smash, milk punch. apple jack, gin cock tail,
Tom and Jerry, spiked lemonade, &C., which
to taste is to like. In connection with, those,
eatables, such us oysters, broilcd partriiges
turtle steaks and other delcacies prepared in
hA inIo otofx,1 Ia nH ~
be had, enticing young men to 60 astray.
Stop these and you will stop the greatest
part of the drunkenness Of tho timo and
protect the rising generation from contracts
ing tho habit. This every parent desires, for
whether he drinks or not he earnestly hopes
his children will not drink. This course
would also destroy entirely tho social feature |
of drinking. which with many isa great ntr
traction: A supper and drinks in an eating
saloon' has its attractions and even the |
socisf glass at tho bar draws off many. t, |
is Furthermore feature in human nature to |
spend foely small sums, whilo larger ones
are spent after reflection. man through
tho day will spend one or two dollars at ten
and twenty cents at time aud never think |
OF it, while to spend the same amount at
one time causes him to think. In this way
the bar is patronizcd more freely than If u |
person had to give one or two dollars for
quart. All these temptations would be cut
off by measure to stop tho dtihk system
OF selling and mon would not only drink
less but would drink at homo
1t may be objected that parties of five or
more would join, buy quart got drunk and
get into difficulties. Only good friends are
likely to buy together and this would be
rare and not likely to result in difficulties
Fights at peddling whskcy wagons do not
result from tkis cause but from the fact that
their presence in neigbborhood collect the
people and among the crowd some are found
who have old grudges against each othcr.
When liquor gets tho better of them these
old grudges lead to trouble in many cases.
This would not be 40 with fricnds joining to
buy bottle Were it so occasionally, still
the ovils would bo lessened The making
and sale Of liquor in this way would be ia
vored by many who will not vote for total
prohibition and would be long stop 10 tho
cause of temperance.
In connection with somo such law should
be one making it highly penal to sell adul-
teratcd or poisonous liquors with somo means
provided for detecting such aduterations.
Before tho war pure liquor was the rule and
adalterations tho exception. There was
thon not one half the crime and misory
traceablc to whiskey as there is now and
not o few believe that tho bulk of tho lauor
now commonly sold is manufactured from