The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-01-11
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THE LIQUOR Law.
1t VIII Provo Nullity without Faithful
Omcers to Enforce 1t.

1t VIII Provo Nuility without Faithful
| Omcers to Enforce 1t.
tFrom the Rev. DR.. Grier in tho Associate Re.
formed Presbyterian <.
No action Of the Legislature for
years past will meet with such u COR
dial endorsement. Tho public mind is
| aroused Oh this subject as it has not
been since the great temperance move.
mcnt OF forty years ago. We believe
there will DC general disappointment
that the bill was not universally pro-
hibitory. Public sentiment is ripc for
this. 1t IS tho wise, consistent course,
and overy interest, public and private,
, social, civil and religious, demands it,
There never was more Senseless or
absurd nttcraAce than that made by
one of the opponents Of tho bill which
passed The Legislature, that tho bill
would "brcaE up the Democratic par
ty." If this gentleman snpposcs that
he represents any large or influential
following in South Carolina he is
esrcgiously mistaken. 1t is lust such
rash and reckless declarations that
bring tho Democratic party into per-
pctual odium. If the desperate altcrna-
tive were presented (and it is not }
who would not prefer to sec the party
wrecked rather than public morals?
No patriot would hesitate single mo-
ment in such Il case. We trust that
this anti-whiskoy agitation will go on
until the desirable result of out and
out universal prohibition will be
reached. 1t is matter for congratula-
tion that so influential journal as the
Charleston NeWS and Courier is so
outspoken on this subject. 1t reaches
and influences largo number of pcr-
sons who never sec or read religious
newspapers. May it never be less
brave or valiant in the fight for good
morals and all tho blessings of temper
ance!
Now a wise law is something good,
something to rejoice over, but faithful
and efficient officers are better, a great
deal better. The recent enactment
will prove nullity, and will disap-
point our expectations if it is not cn-
forced with vigor and resolution. The
internal revenue laws Of the United
States arc sufficiently numerous and
rigid to prevent illicit liquor traffic,
and yet who does not know that they
are Systematically violated under tho
very nose of the officers. For instance,
i'll less than three miles Of Due West
there has been Il "stand" in active
operation for months for the sale of
"blocksdc" whiskcy. We wrote time
and again to Captain Brayton, the col
lector Of internal revenue for this
State, informing him of the facts of
tho case and begging his interference,
and SO far as We can learn we might
rs well have written to the mayor of
New York. The sale Of whiskcv, in
all quantities, bought from unlicensed
trnflickcrs, has been going on with in
crcasing activity. Now if ourA county
commissioners are rs careless and i'll
efficient, the present State law will
accomplish nothing. After all, VIC
feel that very much depends upon the
sober Christian sentiment of the COM
mnnity. Let all good citizens sec to
it that all the miserable dens i'll the
dark corners are fcrrctcd out and the
offenders brought to Justice. Let them
make common cause against the enc
mics of law, peace and call righteous
ness"