The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1892-09-07
The Carolina Spartan.
A Prohibition of Drink Shops.

Sometimes l have been asked, sis the
removal of the drink traffic counsel
of perfection, the impossible dream of
the hopeful temperance reformer? Can
a whole community be found volunta-
rily, and through course of years, to
free itself from the main cause Of de-
moraliZation p
Nv answer is do not merely think
or suppose, l know that it has been
done. And by the healthful develop
meut of the moral seuse of communities
it can sooner or later be done every
where.
In the Southern part of the State OF
New Jersey, forty miles from Philadel-
phia stands the town of Millville, con-
tanning a population of ten thousand,
almost wholly of working men and their
families. / know of only one college
educated man in the town. A genera
tion ago it was specially noted for its
intemperance. 1t is now fifty years
since the owners of the giass-bottle fac
tories, which formed the principal in
dustry of the place, declined any longer
to manufacture bottles for the dealers
in alcoholic liquors. 1t was an an act
of conscience, and seemed like ruin to
cut off line of trade which mostly
formed two thirds of the output OF
such a business. but in spite of this,
the manufacture in other lines was de-
veloped, until it's glass production IN
hollow glassware now exceeds, proba-
bly, that of any other factory in the
world.
The operatives were thus continually
reminded of the question Of the use OF
intoxicants and quiet influence bore
continually upon the workmen.
1t was the elected city council which
controlled the question of licenses. In
the decisive year elections gave ma
jority of one in favor of the sale OF hq-
uor' The deciding vote against pro-
hibition was that of butcher, and the
wives of the astisans let him know that
if by the aid of his vote, the tavern IL
censes were removed, they would buy
meat elsewhere He absented himself
from the city council, and that year
for the first time, no applications for
license were granted.
The three tavern keepers now struck
and tried to force licenses by declining
to entertain travellers. In this new
emergency, a lady, who had the princi,
pal house in the place, temporarily re
ceived all travellers. The reformers
triumphed. Two of the taverns became
tempe ance boarding houses and the
third received visitors to the place.
cor many years the battle was close
one, not without risk of defeat.
But the increase in the prosperity OF
the town, the welfare of individual
families, but most of all the improved
character of the young men, which was
so evident that the prohibition vote
grew stronger year by year, until finally
the question was no longer contested.
This result was mainly owing to the
wise and unfaltering eGortss of the
local branch of the National Woman's
Christian Temperance Union.
Now for the results of fifteen years OF
this "home protection" Instead OF
three taverns and twenty saloons pois-
oning the moral and physical life Of the
community, thriving mechanics in
stitute, costing $4,000 was built, where
a readin room, musical and debating
societies and lectures occupy the even
ings of the young. Three music shops
are establi he'd with an annual sale of
several thousand dollars of cottage Or
gans and musical instruments, and it is
literally true that young men have
grown up, never having seen or tasted
alcoholic liquors. On the occasion OF a
scientific lecture there could not be
found in all the town, enough alcohol
to furnish the material for the expert
ments. When we consider that nine
tenths, if not ninety-nine hundredths,
of vice is connected with indul gence in
intoxicants, we can estimate what all
this "home protection" means to the
~fami les or such community
When the writer last visited the
town, he found that $4,000 had been
spent by the artisans during the past
year in providing freehold houses. Two
policeman are found amply suffi :ient
towatch over town of 10000 inhabi-
tapts.
What has been done in Millville and
many other American communities,
can ultimately be done in every town
in great Britain. 1t is question of
throwing the balance of public opinion
on the right side; where the moral
effort of the better portion of a commu-
nifty brings the right end of the scale
beam below the level, it ought always
to gravitate until permanent deliver
ance from the measureless evils of al
coholism is accomplished"
r. v. 8. in Sunday Magazine"