The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-03-26
THE PRoHIBIToRY LAW.
Some Strong Reason Why Restraint
or the Business OF Selling Liquor
Shoult NOT Exist.

Well, Mr.. Editor, much has been said in
| your columns of late on the above named
subject. But, sir | have noticed that this dis
cuS&ion has been one-sidrd-all in favor OF
prohibition and the friends OF the other side
| nave endured il all In patience. Now, beg
you to let the other side of this matter be
heard from. Every question has two sides,
and am sure this is no exception to the rule.
Ever sihcc the adjournment of the LegiSla
| lurc some fellows from Due West, Greenwood
and Ninciy-SX. have been sending up wall
! loud enough TO be heard in every nook and
corner of Abbevillc County, and to wake and
keep awake every man woman and child in
IL. AS t, result of all this, some of our re-
Sprctcd legislators and the good christian
people of Abbcvillc e. H., have been the most
roundiy abused people in the United States
All this is done because Large majority OF
the best clrizcns" of the town, and their taiti,-
iul repreSen tativcS wanted the claws or this
hateful prohibition animal pulled oil their
municipal corpOsity. 1t is certainly strange
thing to see how slow some people are TO
learn anything. If all these fellows who
have kept up this perpetual squeaing, should
have learned long ago, that "prOhibitlun does
not prohibit" There Is more nonsense
among the suueamish and over-much pious
on his subject of prohibition, than about
anything else, it is ignorance that keeps the
people from seeing as they ought Some
times | am amazed at the amount Of isn0l-
ancc one OF these piuuS human skulls can
hold. Why sir, these rules of prohibition all
along the line are wrong, both as regards high
heaven and human laws. surely the maker
has seen that some laws lie mas maze ana
tried to force on his creatures prohibiting ccr-
tain things, edo not prohibit" Why IL Is
tha. he has not observed these facts, and re-
moved these unlruitful laws, is something
that fills us with amaZcmcnt Let uS take
an example or two. When we open the lids
Of sacred writ, we actually find tl.at 1t has Il
law against stealing. 1t says "thou shalt not
steal" this must br Il very old law. knowing
ones tell us that this law was made about
1900 years before Christ come into the wcrld.
Perhaps, there has not been a day since 1t was
put on the statute books, but what some
naughty fellow has broken 1t. And yet,
wonderful to tell, that law has not been re,
pcaled. Is the moral Governor Of the world
behind? Has he not found ont yet that pro.
hiblion does not prohiblt?' But again, That
same old book contains a law which says
"thou shalt not kill" ANY man, with an
ounce of brains, knows this law IS q failure
Just look ut these Barnwell sinners, EdScfield
County of our State. Why, one fellow was
not satisfied with one victim, but like blood
hound which gets the taste of blood and wants
more, he killed three. Yet that fellow has
ever hung in our County. Is not this a farce ?
Do you not see that "prohihition does not
prohibit These laws are not only laws OF
the Bible, but Of SouOh Carolina Now,
rise 10 speak i'm meeting, and move that we,
the people Of Abbeville County, send men TO
the next Legislature with special orders to
have these useless laws repealed. But sup
pose these sans silly piouS cranks, about
which spoke, will be putting up protest
against this thing. These fellows will never
rest as long us there remains to lis rcstigc
of personal rights. Is not the town OF Ahbe
VILE Il corporation? Her citizens have got To
keep up the town. and also TO make u living
for themselves. say, down with all crankS
who walk up and say they have not Il right 10
run their own business. Then, outside OF the
town, and all over the County, ure there not
men who ought to enjoy their personal free
dom. Of going to IL bar room and getting ~
drink. Ii men want TO drink anu ruin their
physical being, and dethronc reason and fill
premature graves: And further. spend their
money for strong drink. which they ought TO
spend for bread and clothes for their wives
and children-whOse business Is 1t. Well,
then "prohibiLion does not prohibit"
RUSTICUS.