The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-06-27
Chinouepin Burrs.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

work until it rains. Crops are suffer
ing very badly, but still ihereis atinf
prospect ahead, as they are in good
condition. Corn is very good aver
age though small.
Mr.. L. C. Hartley has the finest
field of corn in this section. He is
a model young farmer in every re,
spect.
Watermelons were extensively
planted by some of our farmers neal
the railroad this year for shipment
They are looking fine.
Several of our citizens are engaged
in the turpentine business. Itseems
to l'e paying very we'll.
A convict, working on the farm of
Mr.. J. VIM. Mitchell, escaped from
the stockade last Friday evening.
He stole a suit of clothes from one
of the guards and Tade good his es-
cape. At last accounts he was still
at large.
The commencement exercises Of
the Leesville College were largely at
tended al! the way through. This is
fine institution Of learning and is
literally patronized all over the State.
The completion of its course entities
the student to a diploma, together
with the degree of A. B.
Politics is being talked but little
as yet. The people have learned at
last that industry and self reliance
are the only methods by which they
can derive any personal benefit what
ever. Political agitation, in my
opinion, is doing our State more i'll
jury than the evils Of whisky. 1t
has caused more hard feeling and
bitterness among our people than
can be removed for many years to
come, and they have received no
benefit whatever.
Many people condemn the action
of the State prohibition convention
in not nominating or suggesting can
didates for the various State offices.
Such action on the part Of the con-
vention will certainly be endorsed
and commended by every true citizen
of South Carolina. There is only
room in this State for one party, and
that is the white mans or Democratic
party. Every intelligent person has
only to refer to statistics to prove
that drunkenness is the greatest evil
of the nation. 1t costs this country
more than one billion of dollars
every year to take care Of the 100000
paupers and the 315,000 criminals,
and the 10000 idiots, and to bury
the $4,000 drunkards. Besides this
it is running the minds, bodies and
souls of the human race But what
is to be done to arrest this evil?
Does prohibition strictly prohibit?
Statistics show that over one billion
and a half dollars are spent annually
for strong drink. Does not this alone
prove that the demand for strong
drink is too great to try and enforce
prohibition in one or two years? We
have to prepare for it beforeit comes.
The Dispensary has been tried and,
with few exceptions, I believe was
the best bill ever passed to remedy
the evils Of whisky. When man
has delirium tremens, we do not take
his whisky abruptly away from him.
We mix little in his medicine and
finally get him in shape to take it
from him entirely So we must treat
the State, for the State is but a col
lection of individuals and has the
same symptoms and desires as it's
component parts.
The speech of Hon. James f.
Izlar, member of Congress from this
district, on the 10 per cent. tax on
State bank notes, has been received
by some of our citizens. It is GER
tainly an able argument and reflects
great credit upon him as an orator.
He stands for unconditional repeal
of the tax on State banks. One Of
the reasons which he gives is that
the platform of his party recommends
it, and the people demand it.
Messrs. Matthews and Boulnight,
two of the leading merchants of
Leesville, have started to build a
large two story store house to be
built of brick. The foundation has
been laid.
The Leesville Star, a newspaper
issued semi-monthly, with Mr.. e. J.
Goggans as editor, has made its ap-
pearance. An effort is being made
to start a weekly newspaper in the
town in the near future.
The Batesburg High School,
taught by Mr.. J. J. Andrews and his
able corps of assistants, closed Fri
day, June 18th. This is one of the
finest schools of learning in Central
Carolina, and it's principal ranks
second to none as an educator. May
it continue to prosper until the en-
tire youth of the community are
brought under it's influence.
Success to the Dispatch.
June IS, 1894, DIscIPLUs.