The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1883-07-20
Temperance Column.
Liberty and Law 60 Hand In Hand with Happi-
ness and alike Cry out for Prohibition.
CoSDUcrED BY THE w. G. +. U.

ness and slike Cry out for Prohibition.
A man rowing boat miles above Niaga.
ra Falls, is commanded to keep his boat
from gliding down the river. He says
''This command takes from me my liber.
ty. | will be free and let the boat foa,
where it will"
lie does 50, and presently the boat is in
tho currents leading to the dreadful falls
below. The law of safety and selfpreserva,
tion he regarded as an infringement upon
his liberty. To bc i.ee he ceased to obey
now in the dreadful wh:rl and rush of
waters, where is his liberty Where
is his power to save himself? On he
rushes until the leap is taken down amid
the terrible waters that cover him forever.
To be allowed TO do this, is called liberty.
To restrain men from self destruction,
is called, taking their liberty away. A
man is free when his will is not controlled
by forces beyond his power to govern. To
be ovorncd by the law of right, never sub
jects the will of man to force above his
will. 1t is claimed by some that prohib-
tion is an Infringement upon the rights of
individuals, contrac of their liberties
What contraction, pray, to save men
from ruin What right has man to
make drunkards, or to be a drunkard ? A
right is privilege granted, which is just
and equitable and conducive to the highest
good. If that which we claim as a right,
initiates against the good or happiness Of
ourselves or others, we have no such right.
We have right to labor for the good of
others, but no right to labor for the i'll of
any one. No man has right to do wrong,
nor to engage in that which is the ruin of
himself or others.
Freedom comes through the strict OBJ.
servancc of law. Law prescribes the rule
of action, and right acting is freedom.
Let us test these statements by the facts
of our observation
a young man claims his freedom to take
his daily dram. Days, weeks and months
pass by. The daily dram has become a fixed
hatit, and habit has made him confirmed
drinkcr. Self control is gone. He has en-
tered that dreadful current that sweeps down.
ward. He turns and makes few feeble eff
forts to regain lost manhood but the habit
beats him downward and he falls into tho
gutter.
Poor slave to appetite Gone, because
he would be free to take his dram
Such is the terrible end of the man who
claims his freedom to drink-his freedom
to be drunkard. Surely liberty is not in
the way of .he druGkard nor freedom in
the path of him who dies slave.
lf men would be free, and free indeed, let
them know and do the truth the truth is
the law of God by which he gives happi-
moss to all men.
God alone is free, for he alone knows no
departure from law. Man tramp!es law uu.
der his feet, and from that moment ceases
to be free. Law perverted, and ccasing to
be law, would wreck the universe. Law
asserted and maintained, gives safety and
freedom.
Men may argue for liberty in the wron g,
but wrong doing brings its own slavery.
They may boast of their freedom to drink
much or little, but such freedom will be
short-their glory will bring them shame !;
their end, eternal night.
Is it for the good of men that any one
advocates the right and the liberty to man
ufacturc, to sell and to drink alcoholic
liquors If so, where is the good it
produces
May we ask where is the evil it produces
1t is atundantly manifest. Where is the
liberty it has ever given Rather, how
many are its slaves, too low and mcnial to
be regarded as men?
The law of life and liberty calls for the
Punishment of alcohol, and for freedom from
its cnslaving power.
Could we but gather together all the
curses and woes of the liquor. traffic and ut
ter them in one inharmonious, universal
lamcntation, heaven and earth would trem-
bic at the uttcrance, angels would weep, and
it would seem that even the devils would
feel pity. Yet men, lovers of money more
than righs, lave the effrontcry to look you
in the face and say
Would you take our rights and liberties
from us? We pay our taxes. We.help to
support the government. IF VIC did not
sell it somebody else would. We arc not
responsible if men get drunk. If men give