The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1894-04-18
Prohibition, Dlspensary, Etc.

To the Editor. of The Herald and
News: In these days when there is so
much discussion Of the liquor question,
whether it is better to have DISPENSE
ries, Prohibition, High License or Free
Drinks. and whether wine is the fer
mented or unfermented juice of the
grape, it may be well to call the atten-
ton Of all interested in the matter
and surely all are-to the instructions
Of one of the wisest and best lawgivers
of all times to his people. He had de-
livered them from bondage to an alien
race; bad safely led them through
many dangers to the borders of a good
land into which they were about to
enter, and now, in long and siec-
tionate farewell address, be recapitu-
lates the dangers through which they
had passed; the enemies they had
fought and conquered, and promises
them that, at some time, soon after
they had possessed that good land
which had long been promised them
and to which they were going, their
God, who loved them, and who had
led them, and would never forsake
them, would put his name in some
place and make it holy, where he would
abide and meet them when they went
up to worship with their families and
rejoice before him.
He says: "Thou shalt truly 1.-THE all
the increase Of thy seed, that the field
bringeth forth year by year. And thou
shalt eat before the Lord thy God, in
the place which be shall choose to place
his name there, the tithe Of thy corn,
Of thy ayine, and of thine oil, and the
firstlings of thy herds and Of thy focks;
that thou mayest learn to fear he Lord
thy God always. And if the way be
too long for thee, 80 that thou art not
able to carry it; or if the place be too
far from thee, which the Lord thy God
shall choose to set his name there, when
the Lord thy God hath blessed thee;
Then shalt thou turn it into money,
and bind up the money in thine hand,
and shalt go unto the place which the
Lord thy God shall choose; And thou
shalt bestow that money for whatso-
ever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or
for sheep, or for Wiae, or for strong
drink, or for whatsoever thy soul de-
sireth, and thou shalt eat there before
the Lord thy God, and thou shalt re-
joice, thou, and thine household"
Deut. xiv: 22-26.
This was the way and manner in
which a great religious festival of the
people of God was to be celebrated.
They were to assemble at the holy place
named, eat and drink and rejoice be-
fore him. This exhortation gave the
people to whom it was addressed no
warrant for indulgence in gluttony and
drunkenness; but it was an exhorta-
tion to eat and drink wine and strong
drink before the Lord, and to rejoice
and make merry with their families
before him.
The eastern people were, perhaps,
never given to eXcesses in the use Of
wine and strong drink, like the nations
of western Europe, and if the descend
ants of the Saxons, Scandinavians and
others of the great Teutonic family, in
this country, cannot be kept sober with
out choking, it is better to choke them
a little. Yes, choke them little, but
it is we'll at all times to avoid fanati-
cism. Madame Roland, a great and
wise woman, when about to Gle ex-
claimed: 20 Liberty! what crimes
have been committed in thy name."
In the name of Religion and of God the
earth has often been wet with blood.
PEACE.