The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-10-15
Whiskey and Murder,


Ben Brockmau one would think the
GreenviIle Nc,rs attributed to the selling
and drinking of whiskey on Sunday a
peculiar effect on the mental and moral
nature of the human family. 1t is hot
and heavy after the persons who sold the
liquor to Walker and Gibson on the
Sunday of the murder, and anxious that
these violaters of the law should be fer
reted out and arrested. We agree with
our contemporary this should be done,
for the sale of liquor, bad in itself on any
day, is worse on the Sabbath, not so much
because it is violation of the State and
municipal laws, as for the reason that it
is sinful and immoral.
While we agree thus far, We cannot
assent to the statement of the NewS that,
eff that liquor had not been sold in de-
fance of laws, bonds and public sentl.
ment, Ben Brockman would be alive this
morning, and Walker and Gibson would
be free men, without the stain of blood
on their hands, and with their families,
attending to their affairs"
In our view the violation of laws,
bonds and public sentiment, in selling
liquor on Sunday, had nothing to do with
the death of Brockman, except the acci'
dent of the killing occurring on Sunday.
The day had nothing to do with the
murder. Whiskey did the work, and
that, too, its natural and legitimate work,
and the evil rests not in the selling on
Sunday, but in the selling at all. When
we see that whiskey will lead men to
violate the municipal, State and divine
law and 80 beclcud their reason as to
cause them to commit the highest crime
known to the law, the strongest argument
arises for the absolute suppression of the
nefarious traffic. Would it be any tho
less murder to kill man when under
the influence of liquor bought On another
day than Sunday? Does liquor sold and
drunk on Sunday have different effect
on men from that sold and drunk on
Monday? We hardly think any man
would so contend. Did, then, the drink
ing and selling of liquor lead to the kill.
ing of Brockman? The News, by our
reading, virtually says so, and in taking
that position we would suppose it would
strenuously oppose the license system.
Whiskey is an evil, poison to every
noble and elevating act, and when per.
mitted to do its work under the protec.
tiou of law, it becomes fend iucarnate.
What cares whiskey, and, with rare ex-
ceptions, what cares the whiskey. seller
for Sunday, Monday or any other day?
1t is sold for the money, the profit it
brings the seller, and ten cents taken in
on Sunday will pass current for ten cents
on Monday. A man under the influence
of liquor brought on Sunday kills anoth-
er and great fuss is made, not about the
murder, but about the liquor being sold
on Sunday. Another man gets drunk on
a secular day and kills another, and the
fuss is made about the murder without
word about the selling of the whiskey.
In both cases the same active agent of
evil was at work and produced like results.
Its legitimate work is to ruin men fnau-
cially, to debase them morally and So
cially, to destroy their reason, to strength
eu their passions, and to fit them for the
commission of the gravest crimes.
Should its sale be licensed by the State?
Many contend that prohibition does not
prohibit and that law against the sale
of liquor would be constantly violated
and the evils of its use would be increas-
ed rather than diminished. If this be
true and the real cause of opposition to
restraining laws, Why have law prohib.
iting its sale on Sunday under the sane
ton of heavy punishment? Is not the
Law prohibiting the sale Of liquor on
Sunday constantly violated9 That it is,
is known to every drinking man in the
State, and yet who will deny but the law
does much good, and prevents amuch
drunkenness on that day? Who would
say repeal the Sunday law, because for.
sooth it is violated? So we say the sup.
preston, by law, Of all retail license
would be productive of like good, and in
this opinion we are confirmed by obser-
vation and experience. We have OBJ.
served in towns where the sale LIQUOR is
prohibited by special Act, there is not
only much less drinking, but, in fact,
little or no drinking, compared with
what was seen when licenses were granted.
Not only this, put the press anu people,
in this and other States, bear uniform
testimony of the beneficial effects of
preventive laws in town and Counties
wherever adopted. we admit there are
wide differences of opinion on the ad-
vantages and disadvantages of prohibitory
liquor laws. 1t is a great moral question
on which men may and will differ, and
which men should discuss freely and
without feeling, passion or prejudice.
Our convictions are in favor of such laws
as beneficial. We may be wrong and
will never be found condemning any man
for differing in opinion with us. The
question is gaining prominence in this
and the old country and few years
hence we may be able to form satisfac
tory judgment on actual experience.
Until then the matter will be free for
general discussion IKahalla Courier.