Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1896-04-29
LETTER FROM AN EDGE
FIELD YOUTH.
Dispense With a Dispensary in
Saluda County.--So Pleads
Our Correspondent.
UNIVERSITY OF NASHVILLE.

UNIVERSITY OF NASHVILLE.
Mr.. EDITOR: No doubt the ques'
tion: "Will Saluda county have 6
dispensary," has been asked and
re-asked more than once. This
will be question piopounded tc
the people who have worked long
and earnestly for that which they
now have-that is, a new county.
This strong-drink problem has
been discussed so much that the
people have become tired of it.
and they may be inclined to vote
carelessly when it is presented to
them, not caring much which way
it goes, or how the result is. But
because a question gets old does
that lessen lis Importance? For
example, when a man is eighty
years old, is it less necessary for
him to he q christian then than
when he is thirty? Is uot,, christi
anity life long problem, and yet
does it become old? Nay; it seems
to grow younger. Just SO with all
vital questions of humal. interest.
This drinking problem is a vital
question. The man who would dis
pute it must yet take his initiative
in human understanding
Seeing that it is a vital ques-
ton, we believe the people of Sa-
luda will not act hastily or vote
rashly upon it. They have, for
many years, been fortunate peo-
pie in having the temptation plac-
ed at a distance from them, but
now it becomes their privilege to
say whether they will place the
temptation at their doors, or
whether they will keep it st dis
tance. Their decision on this
question will to great degree help
to shape the destiny of the new
county. Now when the county is
in it's youth. and while it has ro
precedent 10 follow is the time to
settle the liquor question right,
and, from the experience the race
has had with drinking, it seems
that prohibition is the solution
Saluda needs.
This conclusion may seem to
many of our fellow citizens far
fetched, but from the premises ex-
perience has given it seems TO be
the only correct one. 1t is a con-
clusion that all men looking to-
ward the happiness of themselves.
their families, and. their country
Will accept and promulgate. Do
children's rags and women's tears
move men to pity? Would men
live lives worthy of commenda-
ton? Would they strive for the
elevation of their fellow creatures?
Then let them keep temptation
like strong drink at distance,
and see that those dependent upon
them are protected and cared for.
Until man does this he stands
condemned both by the moral and
christian law. Plato says that a
man who breaks the moral law
(strictly speaking man cannot
be moral without, at the same
time, being religious) does it
through ignorance. He says that
a man would never break e
moral law. if 4he-eauld- ~ me final
consequences of his immoral act.
Then let US act on sure basis
and keep from young and vigorous
Saluda county any unnecessary
temptation. II may be alleged
that.a dispensary is necessary for
the purpose of supplying medi-
cine, and for the purpose of aiding
the State with public school mon
ey. Iii the first case the odds are
on the negative side. For medi-
cinal purposes, the people can get
it from the same sources from
which they have procured it here
tofore. Besides medical men are
past coming to the conclusion that
ALcAHoL is almost useless as a
MEDICINE. In the second case it
requires no effort to answer. "The
end does not justify the means"
Shall we slaughter part of human
ity to get money to educate the
race? Why could we not get this
money ',y taxation and save the
drunkard from the awful temps g.
ton which the dispopsary would
throw in his way.
/ hope the good people of Salu,
da will keep in mind the fearful
consequences of drunkenness, and
when this question comes up for
solution they will solve it for the
good of the rising youth of our
country,
Respectfully,
VAN STAR.
In Memory Of Miss Winona L. Tim
norman.