The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1881-05-19
ShOnld q State Prohibit the Sale Of
Intoxicating Liquors

In your last issue Mr. Brown concluded
his articles against Prohibition by taking
the position that such law would be
impracticable, for two reasous: First.
Because It would be violated Second.
That it would not be enforced, for the
want of public opinion to sustain it.
Prohibitionists do not expect total
suppression of the liquor traffic by legis.
lation. There will be violation of law.
as long as the human race exists; and
we do not expect this to be an exception.
But wa do claim that there will be fewer
violations under the prohibitory system
than there are under the license law,
and that the evil caused by the former
vii. bo toe Insignificant to be compared
with the great injury inflicted upon us
by the sale of Intoxicating drinks. The
question is, not whether it will force
some men to disregard law, and to lose
respect for the government, for the prac-
ticability of measure is not determined
by consideriug the disadvantages alone,
but whether or not the advantages 10 be
gained 30 far exceed the disadvantages
as to justify the effort. It is in this way
the practica5ility Of the prohibitory laws
is to be tested.
Now, sound and logical reasoning is
very pretty-both to read and to hear
and am surprised that Mr.. Brown has
never seen but very little of it in favor of
this question, and whilst / do not pro.
tess to be an expert in that line, eres
tchen it is required, would refer him to
our able, concise and logical "pIea for
prohibition" by DR.. Hagood, President
OF Emory College, that has been placed
in my bands in the last day or two.
Logic Oh the practicability of this law
is of very little importance. 1t vanishes
like the mist of morning, when placed
by the side Of the practical results to be
seen in those places where the expert.
ment has been made.
Let us begin near home. A corres-
pondent in the Ne,cs and Courier, writ
ing from the little town of Wedgefeld,
Sumter county, on the results of prohi.
bition there. says: "The bar-rooms closed
up, aud there has been no such curse
here, or whiskey sold in any way since.
Soon the talk of building church and
school house sprang up in the stead
these have been realized with all their
benefcen: results, and other churches
still are projected. The place has grown
almost as by magic. Industry ard thrift
prevail. Lands have advanced in value
in ratio exceeding anything previously
dreamed of in this county. Population
has increased. A healthy moral tone
prevails to such an extent that il man
of any respectability gets in whiskey,'
as the common phrase is, be is ashamed
to be seen about Wedgefeld, for here
public sentiment connects degradation
With such condition. And the course
of events in this good way is decidedly
onward"
a similar report comes from Marlboro
county, where, amongst the many benef-
cent results, Judge Meckey says there
was less crime there than in any county
in the State.
Upon the authority of Rev. J. W. Lee,
of Carrollton, Ca, in q letter dated
April 24th, 1880, portion of which an.
peared in the INTELLIGENCER O few
days ago, We have the result of the pro.
hibitory law in that town in substance as
follows: Before the liquor traffic was
abolished Inc trade of the place was
about 100000 year, now it is $500, 900.
The 100000 that was spent for whiskey
prior to 1875 is now spent in building
houses, improving stock, draining lands
and paying taxes. The farmers are
nearly all out of debt. He says in
moral point of view that the result has
been perfectly remarkable. The Solici.
tor of the Circuit says there is less crime
IN that county than in any other in the
Circuit.
It's practicability has been thoroughly
tested in Maine. Let me give few facts
as to its working there, taken from the
Christian Aduocate. "F'or the purpose of
comparison, let us put Maine by the side
of Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, in
1879 there were in State prisons and jails
1852 convicts, or one to every 460 of
population. In Maine in 1879 there
were in prisons and Jails, exclusive of
those imprisoned for violations of liquor
laws, 400, or one to every 1850 of popu-
lation. In other words, the number of
criminals in Massachusetts is three times
as large in proportion as in Maine"
Es:t ttsscesss:tt!e f:as man 20 furnish, ar
gunents more convincing than these
facts, even though he possessed the logic
Of Bowlan7 Reason and experience
both teach that the benefits produced by
prohibition are infinitely greater and
more valuable to society than be the in-
jury sustained by reason of its disregard,
when enacted, by those who ,cW sell
liquor; and thus, its practicability is in
disputably established.
1t ia mere conjecture to say that when
such law is enacted it will not be en-
forced for tile want of public opinion to
sustain it. We have the same right to