The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1886-05-29
Just FECEIVEB ~
$50 PIECES NICE STYLISH LAWNS
8 10 cents ; Ward. A. SUMMERFIELD q BRO.

When this "local option" law is ex-
amined by the light of reason as we'll
as sentiment, by the light of justice as
well as prejudice, it does seem to us
there is enough of old-fashioned fair
dealing and primeval manhood
amongst our people to vote it down
with indignity.' Let us look at it in q
practical, common-sense way and see
how it appears in the eyes of men
who wish to be honest in their deal
ings with each other. Those who
sell wine, beer, whisky, ice, soda and
mineral waters, are merchants, and
are like other merchants who buy and
sell and pay their debts. This propo-
sition a sinpleton will not deny. Just
think of one merchant doing business
in the same town, under the same
laws, actuated by the same motives,
ito get gain) going to the ballot box
to vote down his fellow-merchant in
business, breaking UP his trade, sink
ing his capital, distressing his fami-
ly! That looks noble and manly does
it not? That is just what every mer-
chant in this county will do when he
throws in his vote for this law.
Against those who sell liquors and
have made money it looks like envy,
the meanest passion in all the long
roll Of human infirmities. But, says
my prohibition friend, II get my
ideas on this subject from the Bible.
and / have learned, on many occa-
sions, that "these men who sell, whis-
ky keep the gateways of hell" Has
not rum and strong drink been sold
in all the ages of the Jewish and
Christian church? Surely no man
that has read enough Of the Scriptures
to be known as a follower of Moses or
of Christ will question the PROPOSE
ton. Read the following from Moses:
"Thou shalt truly 1.-THE all the in
crease Of thy seed that the field bring
eth forth, year by year. And thou
shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in
the place which he shall choose, to
place his name there, the 1.-THE of the
corn, Of thy wine, and Of thine ore,
and of the firstlings of thy herds and
Of their tlocks, that thou mayst learn
to fear the Lord thy God always"
"And if the way be too long for thee
so that thou art not able to carry it;
and if the place be too far from thee,
which the Lord thy God shall choose
to set his name there, when the Lord
thy God hath blessed thee; then thou
shalt turn it into money and bring up
the money in thine hand, and shalt
go into the place which the Lord thy
God shall choose; and thou shalt be-
stow that money for whatsoever thy
soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for
sheep, for wine or for strong drink, or
for whatsoever thy soul desireth and
thou shalt eat there before the Lord
thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou
and thine household, and the Levite
that is within thy gates; thou shalt
not forsake him, for he hath no part
or inheritance with thee. "-Deuter-
onemy xiv-22.
The vintage season of Palestine even
to the time of u Saviour, was a
"most joyful one." 1t lasted for three
months-August, September and Oc-
tober-which the peasantry introduce
ed with every demonstration of joy,
for like contemplating season here, it
was the time that they made the
most money and had plenty of wine
to drink, and most plentiful rations.
Surely no man will endeavort to refute
these facts of sacred history unless he
wishes to expose his ignorance.
But, says my prohibition friend,
"YOu are taking me away back under
the old di%spensation. Moses used to
be pretty good authority, but we have
a greater than Moses-the Messiah
himself" Well, how does prohibi-
ton pan out in the time of Christ and
his Apostles? Our Saviour saw
drunkenness in his day in Jerusalem
and denounced it, as good men in all
ages and countries have done, but he
did not call on the Jewish Sanhedrin
nor the Roman procurator to prohibit
the uses of wines nor strong drink.
That Christ himself used wine, is as
clear as language can. make it. He
was familiar with the manner in
which it was put up, not only in the
firkins or jars, which were often her.
medically sealed and buried, but in
the leathern bottles or g0at-skins
used for that purpose. We have au-
thority for saying that he not only
used wine himself, but to accommo-
date the guests at a Jewish wedding
he transformed eighteen gallons Of
water into wine, That his disciples
used wine is almost absolutely GER
tain, for Paul, the greatest Of the
twelve, recommended it's use to Tim
othy. What is the "cup of blessing"
which we find in LIST Corinthians, K
Is, but the cup over which God was
blessed for having furnished its con-
tents? That is, for giving to men the
fruit Of the vine? Now prohibition
goes so far as to prescribe the uses of
wine which the Patriarchs, the Seers,
the Prophets, Christ and his Apostles,
and good men in all ages have prais-
ed and blessed.
Now when we remember that strong
or alcoholic beverages have been used
from the time that Columbus landed
on this Continent through our colo
NAL dependence through our govern
mental independence up to this "pro-
hibition craze" it certainly is time
for our qeople to think and reason
about this matter like men who are
not to be led by the nose to crafty the
fanatical whim Of every man who can
say lord! Lord!" without having
any definite idea of the result of his
prayers. We ask no charity for those
merchants in our county who have
sOld vino an1 xubioL1 n,d r,odo :,