The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-12-09
First Guns Fired.
Sklrmlsh for the Battle Oyer
the Dispensary.

The fight against the State d,spepsary
law at the assembling of the general
assembly. which has been talked OF a
great deal of late without anyone appa-
rcntly doing anything to push it along.
seems at last 10 have begun in earnest.
Below is an address to the Chris'aio ci''-
zeus of the State. issued yesterday by
the executive committee Of the Pro-
hibition League of South Carolina,
which shows he nature of toe light
against the dispensary system aud
gives the remedy hat is proposed
To The Christian citizens Ct the State :
Mighty evil dominates the land. The
State of South Carolina is in league
with this evil aud every man. woman
and child, by virtue of their citizenship
has been made partner in this crime
of crimes aud will so remain until an
open and avowed hostility to the same
by him or her has been declared aud
every advantage tasen to put this evil
away.
It is because Of this that the rec7 nt
State conference Of Prohioi,Ionlsts met
in Columbia. organized themselves into
society to be known as the Prohlb'-
ton League Of South Carolina and by
resolution requested that the executive
committee prepare and issue ao address
to the Christian citizens of the State.
Ia pursuance of this resolution, the
comm,ttee makes this address and ap-
peal in the naue of God to the co.,
sciences of our people:
We ueed not here recount the maeni:
tude Of the evil, how TO deal with this
great question is the perplexiae fhous bs
that engages the mind of the Christaia
pa.rio. of to-day. It is moral qaes.
;iou aud therefore addresses itself with
tremendous force 10 the ministry ace
lay mem bership Of tbe church Of
Christ
Alas, we have been relax, cur mew
bers Ia many instances have voted With
and patronized the trrfiic. became
tondsuen aud rented warehouses to
the t,aAiekers 10 hunau souls. With
out aid the State would have been
power'ess to pass the law that resolved
herself into great barkeeper aod her
agricultural hall ioto State liquor
saloon. Oar resolutions at our Coo
ferences. associations and presoy'er'es
ae6uiDg toe enormity cf The Evil Of the
liquor traffic aod the proper a',i'rce of
the church has fallen shor, OF the rem
edy. They have ooly shown our ln-
consistency in falling 20 use our pulpl's,
our discipline aud cur organizations
soiidly against the liquor devil
If. therefore, as a church or as a
citizen simply, we would repudiate the
dishouor brought upon US by the State
of which we are citizeps. there must
be an open and declared hosiili'y,to the
liquor traffic that means war OF exter-
mio alton at least so fer as selling it for
beverage purposes is COZ cerned.
This declaration must go beyond
mere words, resoa'ioos and such like
The church must organize on lines of
opposition or use her present o!ganSa
ton aud discipline, and work actively
against this demon that proves the
greatest hindrarce Otherwise she will
by her silence aud Inactivity Increase
the measure of her completely with the
State 10 this foul wrong and eventual
ly be robbed Of her spiritual power.
There are others without church
affiliations their obligations aud re-
sponsibilities are equally great. Il is
likewise their duty to be organized
against this evil if they would be eff
ective 10 meeting their responsibility
We believe it is the will of God that
Prohibition should be the watch word Of
those thus organized, and that problb'
ton 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 pro-
bibit liquors being sold for auy pur-
pose other thau medicinal mechanical
and scientific use. They earnestly request
the cooperation Of all good men by
prayer aud work TO aid them 10 bring
lug to successful issue the ;ssk before
them. T he ministers Of the Gospel
especially, do they extend the request
for their invaluable aid by disccursiog
upon 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 encourage
ment and help Of all who are with
them ~ this righteous war.
L. D. Childs.