The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-05-21
Mr. MeLees Explains.

May Il comment or criticism on my
article in the INTELLIaENoER Of May
7th by John q. McCurry. As I said in
that article / had no intention of getting
into any discussion on that subject with
any person, neither do now reply for
the purpose of a controversy. If the
true sense and meaning of what / said in
that article is that I am opposed to pro-
hibition in limited sense, I did not
mean that. I said Anderson was the
only place at which spirits are sold in
the County. / also said it was the last
place in the County it ought to be sold.
There sought not to be retail shop in
Anderson City nor in the County. That
iis.what I say and mean. My, friend, I
BAY my friend, because I regard him as q
friend in the full sense of the term, says:
isBut'if you will compare the society Of
that day and this, you will see vast
difference. In the first place, the popu-
lation was not half so dense, and boys
were only boys until they were of proper
age; they regarded there fathers COM
mands and example more than at pres.
emit, and the habit of public drinking had
not become SO common and dangerous to
society," 1 must differ a little with my
friend. He seems to think the dense
population has something to do in this
matter. / know the population of the
United States has increased, but I don't
think the increase of population has
much to do with the use of whiskey.
NY friend says boys were only boys until
they were of a proper age. That ID true,
and if parents had kept their boys boys
till grown many of them would have been
sober men to-day who are very often
found drinking to excess. He also says the
habit of public drinking had not become
40 common. I don't know that | know
what the word common applies to, but :!
know that drinking was as frequent and
in as many different places in those days
az it is to-day. That,is what under
stand the word common to mean. Again
he saws, alluding to the so-called temper.
anca societies, II am sorry he wrote OF
them as he did, for although, be it said
to their shame, that some of them drink,
vet some of our best men and women
belong to those societies. In that para.
graph I did not use the word woman
n neither did I include.the entire member.
shin of those societies" ] said / believed
Chat one.half of the male members OF
those societies were drinking men, to q
greater or less degree. l also said that
many of our best men belong to those
societies. and if I said anything that
imputed a disgrace to those societies as a
whole T did not understand my own
meaning. because there are many men
and women belonging to them that l
have the highest respect for. Again my
friend says that / said that Christ mi.
raculously made wine on certain occa:
sion. but says remember it was to be used
as an article of food at supper, and not
TO get drunk and carouse on? Did say
to get drunk and carouse on. If the
gentleman says that I say it, it is not so.
If he infers that is what meant, ne is
badly mistaken. Next he asks the ques.
tior: ssThink you THAT means those
Chat read the Anderson paper that Christ
would have made it2for this purpose 2"
/ think not, neither, do I think it was
made on that occasion to get drunk aud
carouse on.
If the above question does not convey
the idea that my view of the matter was
that Christ made that wine for drunken,
carousal frolic, I confess don't under.
stand what T read. IF I have miscon.
strued: or misunderstood the gentlenan's
meaning I beg pardon, and hope he will
explain it 80 / will understand it fully.
He, says as for the Bible advising It's
moderate use, you will find many places
condemning its improper use. The gen.
tleman might have used the word every
place instead of many, because the Bible
does not authorize the excessive use OF
wine or strong drink anywhere that ]
know Of. He says again, 81 think it says
in one place cursed is every one that
putteth the cup to his brothers lips" and
then asks the question what does that
teach? I will answer the question by
asking how the Book reads in the 3lst
CHAPTER of the Proverbs of Solomon,
isaid to be the wisest man that ever lived,
and of course that ever died. The 6th
verse reads thus: "Give strong drink
unto him that is ready to perish, and
wine to those that be of heavy hearts" I"
7th verse: "Let him drink, and forget
his poverty, and remember his misery no
more" A man might take detached
portion of the Bible and prove or estab-
iish almost anything or any point; but
put the Bible altogether and there is q
great many things therein written that are
hard to understand, and without contro.
yersy great is the mystery of Godliness.
I will close these few lines by repeating
what 1 said in my former piece that
had no desire, disposition or expectation
of getting into dispute or discussion on
the whiskey question or anything else.
But I think the gentleman has certainly
not understood my true position. l
know I threw out the idea that to turn
this whole thing loose and broadcast,
might remedy the evil about as we'll as as
some other plans. l think there would
be trouble for while, but it.would soon
blow over. -,
In conclusion, Mr.. Editor, if you will
be Kind enough to give these few lines q
place in your paper | will be much
Obliged. 1 do not expect to make any
other reply to what my friend McCurry
has said, or may say hereafter or anybody
else. I did not set out for controversy
and will not go into one; 50 trust that
if others are disposed to criticise what
have said, none will be willing to lay
more on me than they would be willing
to carry themselves.
JAMES MCL8Es.
= Under the compulsory education
system very remarkable results are some
times achieved. A Missouri judge