The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1888-01-25
VOLUME XXXII. NO. 81.
Extracts from LowndeSVille Advertiser
temperance.


This is one of the most thoroughly
ventilated subjects of our times. It
has gone on, until it has become gen.
orally discussed both by the religious
and secular press. 1t is a subject that
that touches every question, social, po-
litical and religious. We are told that
it should be held within certain di-
mensions, and advanced so as not to
agitate the public mind too much.
Only moments consideration will
convince aEy thinking man of the i'm
possibility Of this policy. No question
that is of such vital Importance as to
touch every other question, can posi-
bly be discussed without effecting, and
to the extent Of its connection, shap-
ing all that it touches. We can no
longer defer it, and restrain it.
1t must be agitated, be the conse-
quences what they may to other ques-
tions involved. It has assumed pro-
portions which will never be reduced,
until it is finally settled as q question.
1t will not down at your bidding.n
You can scarcely pick up copy of any
paper, but you will find something on
temperance for or against. You may
favor high license, or assume. any
ground you prefer against temperance,
but your opposition will only increase
the efforts of those who favor it, and
the battle is destined to 60 on until
right and truth predominate. It Is be-
yond all question q fact, that those
who favor temperance do it upon
much higher plain of right than those
who favor intemperance in any of it's
phases. They are not actuated by any
mercenary gain, or business result.
They are controlled by the great con-
viction of right, good order, and for
the emancipation of humanity, from
the thralldoln of sin and degradation.
No man can afford to be non-com-
initial on this subject at this time.
Every man is shut up to the necessi-
ty OF showing himself one way or the
other. We find some men who would
like to occupy both sides of the ques-
ton, so that when the matter Is settled
finally, they will be put down Oh the
winning side. .
This cause will do for the spy, but
the man of character and influence,
cannot afford to he thus polite, on a
subject which involves so much that
is vital and inseparable in its connec-
ton with the present and eternal well
being of our race.
The cause of temperance is as deeid-
ed in its demands as in its purposes,
and being SO vast in magnitude, our
relation to it cannot be sham.
AS proposition it takes in the high
est and best interest of every man,
and on this ground it has right to
know its friends. It looks so patroniz-
ing, and so quibbling, to hear q man
claiming TO be friend to temperance,
and Yet saying and doing every thing
in his power to prevent it from sue
ceeding. In the present conflict, these
are the men 10 be dreaded. They are
wolves in sleeps clothing. They are
pretended friends, and only watching
chance to stab the cause they are
claiming to love.
They would be conservatives, If
they could only make the defenders OF
temperance believe it.
They claim to be opposed to the
cranks, and to those they choose to
call extremist, and think if they can
only defeat these, they will certainly
defeat the cause. 1t is this class to be
watched, and their actions studied, II
we would be loyal to temperance.
They tell US to teach temperance at
the fireside, and in the schools and
pulpits, but they say you must not ag-
itate it politically.
Owhat pillows of propriety! IF tho
advancement of temperance were de-
pendent on this class, it would take
the millennium dawn to bring the
consummation.
Let all who have sympathy for the
fallen, and love for humanity show
themselves friendly to the cause now
that we have an opportunity to make
our individual contributions to its ad-
vancement.
In tive will have Gods approval,
and an inward satisfaction of having
done the right.