The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-04-09
Wednesday, April 9, 1890.
Drunkenness Under PrOhibitory
Laws.

Drunkenness Under PrOhibitory
Laws.
The opponents of prohibition claim that
prohibition does not prohibit, aud we believe
those who favor keeping the bars open. think
that there is as much drunkenness uhaer pio
hIbition as under the license system.
Those who favor prohibitory laws, believe
that prohlbitory laws do restrain the SAFE o'
whiskey, and they claim that there Is less
drunkenness when the bars are closed.
We believe that each side is perfectly SIN
cere in their convictions. and, we believe fur'
tber. that the opinions as to the salutary re
suit OF closing the bars differ only as indiyid
ual preferences lead them.
For instance, the man who wants the bars
open, thinks they ought to be kept open, ano
he sees no harm In opening them. Inc man
who wants them closed, thinks they ought t'
be closed and he secs much harm in opening
them.
Last YEAR. for the first six months, the snip
ments of whiskey to Abbeville was estimated
at about one.ei.hth OF what it was under Inc
license system. From that time the prohloi
tory law WAS more or less disregarded, ana tht
sale increased because there as little or nc
effort TO enforce the law.
s or course, If the officers do not enforce tho
law, It is a dead letter.
On the first OF January OF thls year, ~
censes were granted, and now we nave iou'
saloons at Abtevlle, which arc kept open e'-
cry day, and are lighted every night
Will anybody claim that under prohloi
tory law that as much whiSkey could be clan
destinely sold, as Is now sold by these bars:
The temperance people do not claim that oy
closing the bars, that all drunkenness can oe
stoned. but they do claim that there Is less
drunkenness under prohibitory laws, and
they also assert that our young men are less
ant To contract drinking habits when the
temptation Is removed.
We do not and cannot perform miracles.
When a man has acquired the taste lor IL
auor, we cannot remove that taste nor chahee
his nature
Medical science and surgical skill enable US
to pluck out the offending eye, and 10 remove
the diseased limb, but only the Great Physi'
clan can, as vet, take from US the acquired
taste for liquor. The power or the skill 20 &c
so great thing as the blotting out OF our VI
tiated tastes and the reforming OF our cor
rupted natures, has not been acquired Dy us
Though our Creator, in his goodness may ye'
lead us or allow us To do this very thlhS, ye'
at present we have not the secret nor the pow
er to relieve brother who hos fallen a Vlctln
TO the love of whiskey. His only safety lies
in keeping out of the paths which lead TO de-
struction.
Acknowledging that it is out OF our power
to remove the thirst for liquor, which has
once been aroused, only imprcsses US with inc
duty OF removing the temptation for awaken
Ing and creating that thirst, which to us is in
curaSle.
five could cure the drunkard at will, and
IL We could restore him to habits OF industry
and sobriety by our mere bidding, the duty OF
closing the bars would not be so imperative
and the evils attending their opening would
he less fearful.
hut when it is remembered that there Is no
cure for drunkenness. 1t is an awful RESPONSE
bility for the State to license the sale OF tha'
LIQUOR which will most effectively destroy the
happiness of the household, while clogsins
the material and moral prosperity OF the
country.
Temperance people have never claimed thai
they can cure the drunkard, but we do claim
that they may shut up the places which ofei
the greatest temptation for weak brother tc
set his feet In devious ways.
II 1t seems we'll for the people TO keep open
bars at Abbeville, and thereby continually ex
pose onr boys 10 the dangers from which iheil
own sons are, in a measure, shielded, we arc
powerless to help ourselves.
II they wish to assume the responsibility q
granting license for the sale Of whiskey to oul
people, while withholding the evil from every
other town in the county, 1t Is their right to
do so.
Wewant free and unprejudccd vote at the
coming election.
If any man believes that open bars are sooo
for US, let him vote 10 keep them open.
II any mar sees the danger of exposing Us
to temptation, and then desires to inilict on
US an evil, let him vote for free whiskey al
Abbeville.
II any man enjoys immunity from the dan
ger to which we are exposed, and would lead
US into temptation, and seta pitfall for ou1
sons, let him vote for open bars at Abbeville
If there is Christian man in all Of Able
willie county who is willing TO take his share
OF the responsibility for opening the institu
tiOns, the business OF which is the training O
our people TO nkenness, let him do us hi
pleases, and let him look to his God for his re
ward