The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-09
II III E.i ron PROYIBITIOS,
- te(far from Former Soutl, Cnrnlininn
Urging ita Importance Upon the Peopl,
of tho State.

. COHT|cr: The enclosed letter from
C0i. Thomas. although addressed TO
me individually, is upon a subject that
must interest large portion OF ronr
rcatlcrs. Col. Thomas has done much
TO advance tho good cause in North
Carolina, alid contributed 10 the re-
cent prohibition tripmpl, in Chnrlotte.
i You arc at liberty to publish the let
ter.
soryoGt Very respectfully, YOU, :, obedient ts1i
Col. jas. II. Ron, WinnsJoro, s. @. :
DEAR S!R-Undcr deep sense of
duty TO- ;Hy natiye State, where repose
the bones OF my ancestry for nearly
two centuries, ! address myself to a
great public question that yitallY con-
Germs the Commonwealth,
| am aware that when q private citi-
zen ventures to obtrudc his views
upon the public attentions, he is ex-
posed 10 adverse criticism. lie may,
indeed, suffer impeachment of motive
and MISREPRESENTATION of purpose. Be
it SO. Trusting to the integrity of
my se|f-imposed service, | defy calum-
ny while respectfully challenging at
1t may be said that the great danger
that now confronts us in this land and
that impcrils its civilization is strong
drink. 1t RACES and'it lnocks us.
i shall not stop to prove this propo-
sition. It will be admitted. The
next point I make is that strong drink
is terrible evil, social, political, re-
ligions. l might easily show this, and
go on to exhibit further its effects
upon body, mind ana morals; might
prove how it paralyZcs the one, Ell
ifeblcs the second and dcbauchcs the
third. | might tell how the Bible and
Science join hands in dcnunciution Of
tile curse of alcoholism.
But this consider unnecessary. NV
second proposition 1nny take it's place
in the ranks Of admitted truths. If
now, strong drink, proceeding from
thc manufacture and sale of intoxicat-
ing y lnors, is the great evil Of the
linics III this country, more terrible
than war alid pCstilcnCc, whirlwind or
| earthquake, rs could show. and If
the effects personal, social, Industrial,
religious, are absolutely appalling to
man and to Heaven hateful, as
thoughtful, candid minds will readily
admit, then does it follow in logical
order that the great question of the
day for South Carolina, rs well as for
the country as a whole, is how shall
we meet aud destroy this giant evil.
Tho disease admitted, its desperate
character not danisd, the obvious
question, repeat, is, How shall the
disease be removed from the body
politic2 This is the question that l
ask to present; this is the problem
that l ask to solve in the interest of a
grand State, proud in arts and arms,
rich in Il gooely heritage. | come
now TO what is no less plain 10 all, |
that is. what 10 the rcmedy-whut the
method of craftsmanship to adopt in
order to destroy the diseasc Of strong
drink Now this, l think, will be
admitted, that all measures designed
to regulate the evil have hitherto fail
Ell. 10 cure the disease Of intcmDcr-
ancc by organizing the license system,
to regulate the manufacture and sale
Of intoXicants, has entirely fniIcd of
the purpose in view All expcdicnts,
mild or strong, have proved made
quate and have fallen far short of the |
objects sought. This certainly holds |
for South Carolina. The condition of
the State now, and the history Of its
legislation Oh the subject, proves this
conclusivcly.
What, then, is the remedy proposed |
for South Carolina? I answer it is to |
be found in the measure of entire and |
utter prohibition in the matter of the |
manufacture and sale Of intoxicants.
l have not time now TO give my
"strong reasons" for the faith that is
in me. That time may come, God
grant that it may come speedily. At
present l must he brief 1t is enough |
to say that have the figures, the facts,
the argument to present Mt the right |
time and place, and that ,,shall then
DC ready to Try conclusions with any !
champion of anti-prohibition before
the august tribunal Of the people Of
South Carolina in their majesty assem-
Dled for high delibcrative purposes. |
In my Judgment calmly and dcYoully !
reached, in my conclusions based upon |
the granite mass Of conviction. the
only remedy for the great evil Of the
day in South Carolina is prohibition
at once the highest principle and the
best policy.
The axe must bo laid to the root Of
the Upas tree of Alcoholism. In no |
other way can tho evil be cradicatcd. |
The knife OF society must be applied |
to the deep roots Of the cancer Of in-
temperance in order to improve the |
patients health and even to save the
life Of civilization. | shall not stop
now to discuss the right to prohibit,
nor to debate in high argument all the
great questions that are connected |
with the craftsmanship of prohibition.
1t is enough for me to say that pro-
pose to make the argument when the
time shall come, and the demand shall
arise. My present design is to make
suggestion to the friends of prohibi-
ton all through the State, and that is
TO organize, rs soon rs practicable, in
each county, to the end Of calling a
Convention to meet in the Capital
with the view Of bringing its influence
to bear upon the next meeting OF the
General Assembly Of South Carolina.
But | would be nothing if not practi-
cal. This proposed organization is the
gist of my appeal. The State Of my
adoption. is profoundly moved on the
question. 1t shakes from centre to
circumference, and thrills with
llcavcnborn zeal.
1t was my fortune recently to attend