The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1890-03-28
THAT BEDLAM.

THAT bEDLAm.
Nh. EpIroR-In the last issue of the
TIMKs We notice the friendly controversy, if
controversy il may be called, between your
self and "Gleam," in regard TO the effect of
license or no license, in the town of Gaff-
ney. From the tenor Of your remarks
-hoth ore strong advocates of the cause Of
temperance; one disclsimiug that he ever
touched drop Of the soul destroying stuff ;
the other proving by his words that approx
innate "tbe smell of FIRE aud birthstone as
nearly as the English language will permit,
that he will get no "quick through ticket"
on whiskey's account. Yet we are sorry to
eco you two champions of the grand cause
Of temperance differing all because in your
editorial you called the little town Of Gaff:
ney "Bedlam" and has taken the council
TO task for granting license for the sale of
intoxicating liquors.
Now, had our friend "G!eam' only con-
suited his dictionary aud reflected little as
to the meaning of Bedam, which Webster
defines as ga mad house, or place where
crazy persons are kept" he must have read
lily observed that the word was used by you
in y very vague and indefinite manner.
EThe idea that Gaffney was u place where
crazy people are kept! You doubtless
-neeatte MERE aaxss-moSs disorder
Ia the town than before licenses were
granted, which fact wouhl seem true, or
else why the extra police fsrce and station
house?
The drinking and drunkenness about
the town may be no greater than before,
yet more liquor is used by the people from
the country. When the town was dry the
whiskey drinking farmer would return from
town with his wagon; his driver and at
tendants all sober.
Now somebody comes homo with new
sopgs on their lips, their breath smelling Of
"spice' and something else nice, with au
extra bottle or two for good ginger stew,
with So or $40 left behind for bad or dis
orderly conduct. Nothing of this kind oc-
Cured oeforc licenses were granted, so far
Is our well meaning h". wsak-kneed coun-
try folks-were concerned. If the town
eeu.oil could not prevent the sale Of liquor
in Gaffney, they certainly did right in sign
ing the license to have it sold by law, and
VT have no doubt that their action in this
matt,r was exactly correct since the petition
was signed by MAJORITY Of The best citizens
fof the town-men who stand as high socially,
morally and religiously, as any in any town
and church in the land.
Now, in short, Mr.. Editor, yoa and your
friend "Gleam" differ about this way: You
have been reaiiug and thinking great
deal about tho evils of The liquor traffic, and
the action of the good people and worthy
council of Gaffney have given you tho
material to concre etely clothe your thoughts
in words that burn. Friend "Gleam," on
tho other hand, in his efforts to defend the
good name Of the town, falls in the error Of
basing his opinions upon what he hears and
observes outwardly, for it is not reasonable
to suppose that man who never took u
drink Of whskey or drank glass of beer,
ever frequents places where whiskey and
beer are sold, nor even associates with peo-
pie who sell the intoxicating cups, and Of
course, is not proficient judge Of the cf-
fects Of license. OUTSIDER.
While l endorse most of "Outsiders"
letter, there is structure feel called upon
to make: lie says, "if tho council could not
prevent the sale Of liquor, and backed by n
majority of the best citizens they did
exactly right TO grant license. am in
formed from truthful source that the
majority of the good people Ct Gaffney
proper did not favor the license Of barrooms,
but the whiskcy men with pretezt of
getting Limestone within the corporation OF
Gaffney had new charter procured, extend
ing the corporate limits so as to embrace all
the country around, including all the dwell
ings Of every class, giving them the votes
for whskey of the vile population that
ALWAYS hoye--s--.---i'i-o- a. o--'U".- -SouuU', NJ
---reases.lie,f not in favor of these traps of
disgrace, infamy and death being opened up
in their once quiet town.
No, "Outsider," no man has right to do
wropg-no5 5 to counienance sin; and is
not a man sh right in the sight of
High IIcave35 lioensc the administering
OF deadly pa,s 3, to seal and t. kill as to
license another to doal TO his fellow being
poison that takes the homes, food and raj
meQt from hear,-broken wives and mothers
aRelpless children, and sinks its victim,
soul and body, in he
Four-ffths of the expenses Of our courts,
four-ffths Of the crimes committed, four
fiftls of the inmates Of our prisons and
Fepiteniiarics are from the effects of liquor,
and DO hope that the rays of light and
truih will penetrate the moral vision Of
"Glc'm' until he has the power of discern
ing and fighting evil wherever found.
EDITOR.