The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1891-10-14
PROHIBITION POLITICS.
Some Straight and UnmiStakable
| Talk About the Rum Traffic.
Editor Press and Banner:

Editor Press and Banner:
AS the time is drawing near when our Leg
islature viii be In session, and there VIII be a
question before it fraught with vast ana mo-
menlouS importance 10 our State, i desire
space In your valuable paper 10 emphasize
Its importance. l refer to the prohibition
question.
II is with no little hesitation. that I take
hold of n subject so ably talked and written
upon by those far more competent than l, ana
its present Importance Is my only apology:
In my plea for prohibition feel assured that
shall have the sympathy and support Of all
the good women of this fair land. and In call.
ing for the abolishment of this legalized
pestelence voice the sentiment OF all the
good Of all lands.
There are some things cannot understand,
in fact no one can understand, and chief
among them Is, why II Is so hard TO eXpel
rum from 4 State or Nation? why IL is
that the God-siven instinct OF seltpreserVa-
tion does not come TO our rescue In this Tear
rul issue, as ii does In so many others.
Let an epidemic break out in any portion
OF the country and we at once take every pos
sible prccaut.on 10 prevent It's spread. we
quarantine against disease and death In every
other form. but here is plague that was born
in hell and rushed to earth and spread VIDE
its wings over all lands, and only feehle ell,
forts have ever been made TO stay It's Ieariul
ravagcS -,
In its death-dealing power IL has put 10 the
blush all other epidenlics, for while thoy are
local and confined, this Is nircrsal ana un-
dealing power only touch this earth In small
places. but this evil like death upon the pale
horse finds its way into every nook ana cor
ner Of this world, fiiing EARN WIN tne
Shricks, cries, gronnS, tears, Dloou anu ueath
Take our own little State and oh g.! what hns
she not suffered from this gigantic evil IN
some respects am proud Of grand old South
Carolina, the State Of my adoption. She was
among the first when she felt the hand OF
oppression to resent IL when she considered
her State rights infringed, she rapidly ana
bravely came 10 the front ana win unHlncn-
and trying years, and when at last deieat !
came. She bore 1t with q heroisin worthy or
her record. And during the dark ana suHer
ing years that followed she was pailent, ana
for her TO throw off the hand OF oppression
with that promptness and determination
that has ever characterized her efforts wnen
duly called. she flung OIL the cnalns olaI a,aI
bounded her and has arisen Win unparilIIeieu
rqpldily to q high state OF prosperity, but
when it comes to dealing with Inc hydra-
headed monster intemperance. she mas
broken her record she nus sEafceiS CIV, ,n,nrzn
We have done comparatively little 10 stay
the awful ravascs OF this fearful curse. rear
ier year the work OF destruction mas gone
on right in our midst. and In sight Si e lhe
church and In the sound Of the church bell
Young men, noble In many respects, nave pe-
gun down ward career, going on roih one
& on tO uuOtner TIL tnelr nODiC
been vitiatcd, their affections scared, lhtlr
consclcuceS almost dead and their cha'nc'ers
corrupted and the end at last the ctcrhai loss
Of the Siiil. ,, ,, ,oro
Many of our beautiful and noble girls nave
been led with coniiling trust to the ailar
where without q ShadOw0f doubt thry nhfp
pIIehIed their faith and consecrated their
womanhoCd to the man OF their cioice, 10
find alas, too soon. that he Is IN the iearlui
tolls OF this gastly monster. She has sincere,
Iy tasted the cup of bliss ill Prince AIrhhoi
With n mothers hand dashes the cup rom
her lin and dooms her to II life, in conlparl-
son with which death, would be an 1nhnl,e
relief Children by The thousand are hlaue
orphans or worse, and this work is going ON
ali The time-gong on, too, IN rohhtry
where you can 90 but Il short distance ID any
direction without coming in contact WIN
church and possibly eighty per cent. OF lhe
nonuIation are church communicates.
gentleman who was III posltioh w
know told me that In certain CITY !hnt
larpn) H. this State the bar rooms rala yen
thonsund dollars licenses, and In TINS city
there are two religious colleges, ana Judging
from the church records the chnrcli WleiuS a.
n0wcrful Influence there. Is u not tlme lot
The GOOD ucnple, yea. for all lovers OF huhaIl-
iiy tn arise In their righteous Indignation,
aid cry "tho sword of the Lord and Gideon,
and in the strength of the l.orI uemanu 81 ~
our Legislature the passage OF a biIi tllat VIII
chase This monster beyond our BORDERS;
But more anon. Lone " "''u''