The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-09-10
TIE FLAT ROCK PICNIC.
An Unexpected Acrimony Developed OIL
Prohibition.

According to previous announcement
large number of ladies and gentlemen as
sembled in Flat Rock Church on last Sat-
urday morning to attend the Sabbath
School and Temperance Picnic. The
morning was devoted to the Sabbath
School meeting. Mr.. j. A. Hall presided,
and Messrs. NJ. B. Clinkscales, Columbus
Wardlaw and J. z. Breazealo made inter-
esting and appropriate addresses. At the
close of the morning speeches, a recess OF
one hour was announced, and an abun-
dant and delicious repast was enjoyed by
those present.
After dinner the audience again repaired
to the Church for the purpose of hearing
the subject of prohibition discussed.
The first speaker introduced was Maj.
John B. Moore, the present Senator from
this County. He began by deprecating
the mixing of the subject of prohibition
with religion, and said that those who
did it sought position for themselves and
not the good of the people, and proceeded
to characterize them as towards and sub.
terfuges." He remembered "when the de-
canter was in every house, on one of them
things-what do you call them Ia voice
in the 'sideboards,' that's it,
sideboards," and there was not as much
drunkenness then as now. He cited the
instance of venerated deceased member
of this Church who used to distill spirits,
and asked if the audience was ready to
say that he was "in hell.' He said the
reason there is more drunkenness now
than then is, because liquors are not pure.
The distiller pays tax of ninety cents
per gallon and sells it for $3.50 per gallon,
and yet the bar-keeper sells ic at seventy
five cents per gallon. "It has hell mixed
with it," He said that Mr.. Prep and
the INTELLIaENcER had called for his rea-
sons for not favoring the prohibition bill
for this County, and he had given them.
He continued, when Mr.. Prep and the
INTEL11GENcER claim that they are the
people they lie, and they are towards if
they take it.
Mr.. Murray: I want to understand
your charge. Do you say that the INTEL
,LIaENcER ever claimed that it was the
people?
{. Mr.. Moore, after some hesitation SAID,
YES, Sir, I do say so.
T He then said that the INrELL1GENcER
F had stated that the bill had time to pass
after it was introduced in the Legislature
Sif there had been no opposition to it.
ET pronounce that statement lie.
There was not time enough to have got
ten the bill through, though believe the
IHTELL1aENcER is right when it says the
bill was introduced two days sooner than
stated: Now, because we opposed this
! bill are we to be branded as Outrageous
monsters for not changing this law ?"
Mr.. Murray has the credit of passing the
Local Option Bill, which is the first law
ever enacted in this State that gives man
living in town moro rights than a man
in the country has. If had been in the
Legislature would have voted against it,
but when i got there found the law
working well-the people were satisfied,
and am in favor of letting it alone. 1
do not think it wise To- disturb the people
on this subject. They are unit on all
questions but this, and are about equally
divided on it. If this issue is forced, there
will be danger at the polls. We may cheat
the negro in elections, but not the white
man. When it is attempted you will see
white men daggering oneanother at the
| polls, and the negro will hold the balance
of power. "Now, thems my sentiments,
and damned be he who differs from them" ;"
Mr.. Murray wants you to vote in this
matter, but he has never suggested thathe
wants you to vote for Cotton Weigher or
for City Council, or thath wants portion
of the license money to so to the country.
Our smoke-house is in the West, but if
you could distill your corn, the swill
would fatten as many hogs as the corn,
and you would have the profit from sell
ing the whiskey. have made corn
whiskey. was boy once, but am a
man now. was born a boy but people
are born men now, and we old fogies
must give way to Young America. No
man has higher appreciation of temper
ance than I have, and he who says to the
contrary lies, and the truth is not in him,
but I am opposed to prohibition. The
Savior was not afraid of wine, like my
young friends, and David gave wine to
the people. 1t was no sin then to drink
wine but in modern times the giants
have discovered that it is sin. I don't
think you will vote for prohibition. If
you do you are greater "set Of apes"
than take you to be-. He who tries to
make capital for himself out of this ques-
ton deserves the condemnation of all
good people.
This is only synopsis of this remark
able speech, and after its delivery Maj.
Moore Immediately left the Church and
did not re-enter it during the evening,
Mr.. Moore was twice stopped by mem
bers of the Church, who objected to such
language as his being used there. Each
time Mr.. Murray stated that;he hoped he
would be permitted TO proceed, as he did
not wish to see him cut of from saying
whatever he pleased, and he was permit.
ted to conclude.
Hon. H. G. Scudday next made an ad-
mirable prohibition speech, and was fol-
lowed by Hon. R. P. Clinkscales, who
made the best speech we have ever heard
from him. His speech was opposed to
prohibition, without he could be convinc-
ed the people wanted it. His position
was conservative, and shows that he has
the question under advisement, and will
seek to carry out the wishes Of the people.
Mr.. E. B. Murray was next introduced.
He stated that he was there in Difference
to their invitation, and regretted that he
should have been the occasion of COM
pelling this intelligent audience of ladies
and gentlemen to listen to such a speech
as the one in which he had been attacked.
From it one would have thought he was
on trial, and not the subject of prohibition.
He could not descend to the use of such
coarse language as Mai. Moore had used,