The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1896-12-09
The Prohibition Address.

COLUMBIA, December 4.-The following
address has been issued by the Prohibi-
ton committee:
A mighty evil dominates the land. The
State of South Carolina is in league with
this evil and every man, woman and
child, by virtue of the citizenship, has
been q partner in this crime of crimes,
and will so remain until an open and
avowed hostility to the same by him or
her has been declared and every adyan-
tage taken to put this evil away. It is
because of this that the recent State con-
ference of Prohibitionists met in Colum bia,
known as the Prohibition League of
South Carolina, and by resolutions re-
quested that the executive com mittee
prepare and issue an address to the Chris
tian citizens Of the State.
In pursuance of this resolution the
committee makes this address and appeal
in the name of God to the conscience of
our people. We need not here recount
the magnitude of the evil.
How to deal with this question is the
perplexing thought that engages the
mind Of the Christian patriot of to-day.
It is moral question, and therefore
addresses itself with tremendous force to
the ministers and lay membership of the
Church of Christ. All say we have been
relax. Our members in many instances
have voted with and patronized the
traffic, have become bondsmen and rented
ware houses to the trafickers in human
souls. Without our aid the State would
have been powerless to pass the law, but
resolved herself into great bar-keeper
and her Agricultural Hall into State
liquor saloon. Our resolutions at our
a. aso4s1 ot,l tyyfa arfn
defining tho encrmity of the evil Of the
liquor traffic and proper attitude of the
Church have fallen short OF remedy.
They have only shown our Inconsistency
in falling to use our pulpits, our discipline
and our organizations solidly against the
liquor devil. If therefore as Church, or
as citizens simply, we would repudiate
the dishonor brought on Us by the State
of which we are citizens, there must be
an open and declared hostility to the
liuuor traffic that means war of exter-
mination, at least so far as selling it for
beverage purposes is concerned. This
declaration must 60 beyond mere words,
resolutions and such like. The Church
must organize ON lines of opposition or
use her present organization and disc
cipline, and work actively against this
demon that proves the greatest hindrance.
Otherwise she will by silence and inactiv-
ity increase the measure of her completely
with the State in this foul wrong, and
eventually be robbed of her spiritual
powers. There are others, without
Church affil;ations, whose obligationsand
responsibilities are equally great, and 1t
is likewise their duty to be organized
against this evil. Ifthey would be effec-
tive in meeting their responsibility we
believe tits the will of God that prohibition
should be the watch word of those thus
organized, and that prohibition should
mean no compromise with evil. The
committee will seek to secure the passage
at the next session of the Legislature Of
an amendment to the present laws of the
State that will prohibit liquors being
sold for any purpose otherwise than
medicinal, mechanical and scientific.
They earnestly request the cooperation
of all good men by prayer and work to
aid them in bringing to successful issue
the task before them. To the ministers
of the Gospel especially do they address
the request for their Invaluable aid by
discoursing on and otherwise laboring
for the prohibition of the liquor traffic as
only Christian minister can do. !. The
committee will be charged with great
burden, involving many duties. They
will certainly need the encouragement
and help of all who are with them in this
righteous war.
Signed: L. D. Childs, G. D. Stanley,
the Rev. G. H. Waddill, ]. e. Bronson;
r. M. Adam, T. J. Lamotte, +. H Hyatt
the Rev. j. G. Dale, Committee.