The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1893-10-04

Mr.. EDITOR: Now is q good time to
write about the dispensary-not direct
" the dispensary in general, but Of our
dispensary in particular-whlle news
is scarce and there is not much of any
thing else to consider in this column;
although the drspensary il: a big thing
to talk on three hundred and sixty-nve
days in the year. And to writefof such
things gives the public something to
feed upon, to reflect over and to take
an interest in, in order to keep the
mind alive and prevent stagnation.
We do not all agree on the subject,
but that is all right. People never did
unanimously agree upon any question
that is, hardly ever. II everybody
believed in the Baptist denomination,
there would be uo Lutherans, etc., to
help them straighten this crooked
world. And if we had no electrical
storms TO purify the atmosphere the
elements would be in bad condition.
So it is well to stir things occasionally
and get rid of the malaria if possible.
Principalities and municipalities will
differ, and there is nothing wrong in
this. Because Noah got drunk when
be came out of the ark, was no more
reason for the establishment Of vine
yards and distilleries than for the or
ganization Of temperance scc'"tie- and
dispen,aries, aud yet no doubt ii Lhose
days that incident was discussed from
both standpoints by the Noahites and
the 'santis.n The only thing about it
perhaps that the public would unani-
mously agree on was that Noah's
stomach wasn't as big as he thought it
was when he began taking a little for
its own sake, as Paul once told limo
thy to do, or else his system was out OF,
order.
But TO the dispensary in particular;
and because some Of US disagree on it,
let's not get ''nad"-for really those
cyclone mosquitoes are too bad these
nights for any Of US to retire with
disturbed mind.
If the, writer was pronounced Pro
-hibitionist and violently in favor OF
the dispensary, it could be then said
that he was biased and extremely par
tisan in his views. Buff it be ic1-
portant enough-let it be borne in
mind by the opposers of the dispensary
system that he voted squarely against
prohibition. So that what will be here
said will be said in a spirit of fairness
and friendliness, with no desire for
controversy, but simply to do the
right.
From q moral and social point of
view, then, the dispensary is g suci
cess. We: have no wish or intention
to discuss it politically CT financially
except to say that some men are weak
minded enough to oppose it Oh account
of its advocates, and that it can no
more be run without "for the revenue
that is in it" than a minister of the
gospel can preach without money. AS
we'll say that preachers not in earn
est in saving souls because be wants
las he needs4 his share Of the filthy"
lucre. Away with all such hypocricy!
And if it is wrong for church MEM
Der to be a dispenser, why was it once
right for Christian druggist to sell
whiskey for other than sickness?
But it is only Of its moral and social
features that we care to speak at pres
ent, knowing that what tends to ele-
vase morally and socially is of benefit
spiritually and religiously. d. -
Where are the noisy crowds Of half
drunken negroes that used to infest
our streets at night-especially every
Saturday night-apd make the time
and place hideous with their coarse
curses andryell2 Where is the tumult
heretofore incident to the landing of
the cc!ored railroad hands every pay
day? Where is the in6ecent~uproar,
the brutal and bloody ending of the
brawling midnight dance, or the drink
ing, cutting, slashing and; shooting of
the gambling den? Where ale the ca
rousiug knock-downs and drag.outs,