Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-08-04
9}|iseellameuns &eaaimg.
THE TEMPERANCE ISSUE.

THE TEMPERANCE ISSUE.
A Movement in favor of Prohibitory Legis
latl0n.
At a meeting held by the joint committee
of the temperance organizations and citizen
of Columbia the following address and plal
for the calling of convention was unanim
ously adopted:
To the Citizens Of South Carolina:
The enormity of the evils resulting from
the unrestrained traffic in and the use of in
toxicating liquors which affect every
class and condition of society, and imperil ev
cry interest of our social, moral and politica
system-has become apparent to every one
who has given even casual consideration te
the subject.
The Press, the Pulpit, the Judges from theil
high official position, the records of crime and
pauperism, the languishing industries and the
suffering women and children of our State
have all borne their unimpeachable testimony
to these evils, and in terms of eloquent and
indignant pathos, they call loudly tor re-
lief.
The powerful appeals from all'these sources
have not been without good results, and we
gratefully recognize that much has been done
in awakening the public sentiment to the ne.
cessity for efforts to counteract these evils and
remove their prime cause.
The recent Act of the Legislature prohibit.
ing the traffic outside of incorporated villages
and towns has already been marked by the
most gratifying results in every county where
it's provisions have been enforced, and there
has followed directly and Immediately there.
from, marked improvement in the moral
character and material condition of the COM
munity, fully corroborating and confirming
the correctness of the policy of prohibition.
In no single instance has body of citizens
given expression to desire that the law OF
the last legislature should be relaxed or re.
pealed, while on the contrary, so we'll satisfied
are the people elsewhere of the benefits which
result from its enforcement, that in the few
cases where its provisions have been evaded
or disregarded, there issues an imperative de-
mand for its rigid enforcement, and the law
and peace officers have been constrained to
pursue the violators to the extreme penalty of
the law.
1t is true, however, that despite the power
of law and the appeal to reason and conscience
which have been called forth by the public
interest in the subject, both the law and the
public sentiment are, in some places, openly
set at defiance by the comparatively small class
who would make merchandise of human mis-
cry and spoil the dearest interests of human
society, if only they may enrich themselves
chu M no nj
ry, for as long as the law discriminates be-
tween one person and another, or one place
and another, it is vulnerable to the objection
which will always be made against class legis-
lation, and engenders sympathy with those
whose rights are supposed to be invaded, rem
dering it difficult to convict them Of viola
tions where severe pains and penalties would
be the result. Besides, the very object of the
law--the protection of those communities who
approve of and desire its provisions-is de.
feated by the failure to make those provisions
The prohibition of the traffic in the country,
as is shown from the testimony. does result in
good, but much of the good possible under its
provisions is lost, if, from the neighboring
town or village, the supply of liquor is made
almost as accessible to the masses as if it were
to be had at every cross.road store.
But it is said that the incorporated towns
now have it in their power to prohibit the
traffic by their own action that, therefore,
the remedy is within their own reach and ad-
ditional legislation is needless. Perhaps if in
every city, town or village, in South Carolina
where the traffic prevails to day the issue could
be made, free from any local. political or par
tisan complications, and from the corrupting
influences which always attend exciting pop
ular elections, it would be safe to affirm that
the remedy would be efectually applied in
this way. But while the friends Of prohibi.
ton confidently believe that such a trial would
result in success, yet, on account of the polt.
ical complications which would inevitably
arise in popular election to disturb the bal
ance or imperil the integrity of the present
political power in the State, they believe that
success in this way would be purchased at so
great cost and sacrifice of other important
interests as to justify them in declining to as.
sumo the responsibility of such course ex-
cept as last resort, and when the effort to
obtain it by legislative action proves to be
hopeless. =
As the result of careful review of the
present status of the question, we believe and
affirm
First That the sentiment of the people of
South Carolina is overwhelmingly in favor Of
the prohibition of the traffic in alcoholic
liquors as beverage, as means of suppress
ing pauperism, crime and the innumerable
evils which everywhere attend the indulgence
in strong drink, and Of improving the moral,
intellectual and material condition of the
people.
Second. That if this be the prevailing sen.
timent, it is then the duty of our fellow-citi-
zens everywhere to give it expression in such
form and through such agencies as shall make
it effective in securing such legislation as shall
provide remedy for the evils which endan-
ger our civilization from this source.
Third. That as the most practical method
of calling out and giving expression to the
public sense on this most momentous issue, we
invite our fellow citizens everywhere through
out the State, to appoint from among them.
selves discreet and worthy men to assemble in
a convention or conference at Columbia, on
the 9th day of September next, to consider
and advise what action should be taken by
the Legislature, at its next session, to more ef-
fectually suppress the traffic in alcoholic
liquors, and remedy the evils resulting there
from.
Fourth. We respectfully submit the follow
ing plan by which the selection of delegates
to said convention may be made:
(1.) That the Grand Division of Sons Of
Temperance of South Carolina be requested
to take action at their approaching meeting,
so as to ensure full representation from the
order throughout the State, in a convention Of