The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-17
THE RELATION OF RUIZ TO cE1ME.


Hon. A. B. Richmond writes as follows in
the ChautauqnGn:
So certain are the criminal effects Of the
licensed drinks Of the saloon and bar-room,
that chemist in analyzing them should not
be surprised to detect crime in crystalline
form existing as an original element in their
composition, while it would not require the
microscope to discover the monad cells OF
every sin incident to the fallen man in the
foam Of tho beer-mug OF the dregs CT the
wine-cup. 1t is useless to attempt to palhate
the effects of Intoxicating drinks on either
the physical OF moral being Of the people, or
to find reasonable excuse for the laws that
license their sale as a beverage. Not one
truthful sentence can be uttered III their de-
fense The scapel of the surgeon with uner-
ring certainty has revealed the inevitable
germs of disease and death i'll the human sys-
tenn planted by even moderate use OF lntoX-
icants; while the records of our criminal
courts are stained on every page with the
history of the crimes committed through
their influence. These are not the simple as
sertions of mistaken zeal and fanaticism, but
truths as clearly demonstrated by sci
ence and proved by evidence as propo-
stion in Euclid or q recorded fact in history;
and he who denies them is either wiilfully ig
norant of what he might learn or he ignores
both truth and conscience in denying what
he does know to be true. We cannot glance
over the columns of daily paper without
seeing a narration of some tale of want and
woe caused by rum, or the details of some
horrible murder, prompted by its maddenins
influence. "I&illed in drunken brawl!" isa
head line that startles the eye Of the reader
from the column of 1.-The news of tie day."
which is followed blythe sickening details Of
murder committed in licensed saloon or bar
room; q crime incident to the place and the
legal franchise that permits it to exist, and
without which it would not have been perpe-
trated. In another column is published the
confession of O murderer on the scaffold, who
irlplores commiScration from the public be.
cause he was drunk when he committed the
deed Rum had pointed tire blade OF the as
sassn or directed the bullet Of the homicide.
The criminal himself was unconscious OF the
terrible act he was about to expatiate with
his life. The frenzy Of licensed rum had mad
6ened brain, and he knew not what he did;
vet his plea for sympathy falls on unheeding
ears. There is no mercy for him.
For although the law licensed the
cup that made him q criminal,
yet it is relentless in its demands for his exc
cution. What a morstrous lncongrulty IS our
criminal code when placed by the side of our
laws that license the sale of rum and its kim
dred spirits of evil! The cause exists by per-
mission Of legal enactments; the effect is pun
ished as crime The seed is sown in our
courts of justice. The harvest is gathered
into our prisons and poor houses. The law
prescribes the death penalty for homicide
and licenses rum to tempt men to murder.
Its primary object is the health and welfare
of the people, yet disease and pauperism
come from its 'petted privileges" 1t licenses
the stream from the still, then the absurd
folly of the law attempts in vain to counter
act its deadly effects by regulating the flow
from the bottle and spigot Of the saloon and
and sample room" Truly will the future
historian have prolific theme for his pen,
ancienh and their disregard for the sanitary
and moral conditions Of the people.