The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-02-12
The Cause Of Temper
anC0.
aIlC0.
A Memorial Presented to the
Legislature.

The following memorial iu regard to
the bill recently introduced in both
houses of tie general assembly. looking
to the amendment of the dispeosary law
SO as to DO away with the use of liqcoT
as beverage and the profit feature OF
the preseu,system, vas yesterday p!acea
on the Sesss of the members OF the
legislature
The memorial of the Gospel Temper
arce union of South Carolina respect
fully presents TO the general assembly
of South Carolina that it is an organl-
zatioo composed of citizens ofthe State,
having for its object the suppression of
the liqucr traffic. In pursuance OF
this object the executive committee. o:
this or sauization have had prepared a
bill 20 amend certain sections of the xe-
listing dispeusary law, which is DOW be-
fore beth houses Of the general assem-
bly, for your COD sideraticn.
These amendments propose to elim'n.
ate aps profit further than necessary 10
enforce the sane aud further eliminate
the dispensing of Intoxicating liquors
as beverage, so that they shall be sold
pnly for medicinal, mechanical, scient'-
fic and sacramental uses.
These amendments represent the
wishes Of the Gospel Temperance union
of South Carolina aud the Christian
sentiment of the State.
We maze this appeal for their adop-
ton for the reasons following:
I. These amendments are such as
will put the dispensary law in lasting
favor With the best aud most lawabiding
people of our State.
II. The law, as amended. will have
the hearty support in its enforcement of
the conscientious citizens aod lovers of
sob-iety.
III. l: will sllay the discomfort of
prohibitionists and others if intoxicat-
ing liquors arc no longer sold as bev-
erage, as there are many who think the
State has no right to sell it as bever-
age.
". IF such amendments are adopted
as will unite the good people of the
State ia giving their moral support to
the enforcement of the Law. the Illicit
sales will necessarily be decreased.
Such changes will in no wise affect the
provisions of toe act regarding its en-
forcemeut, al! such provisions remain
ing 10 fell effect
Y. 'fbe sale Of liquors will then be as
m-,h or more under the control of the
Ssa.e than it could possibly be other
wise. !rasmuch as good or better men
.coui~; Sc secured 70 act as officers 10 the
dispeosary, and no church could refuse
TO keep rsember in good standing who
held srch an cf6ce, which is net the
case now.
VI. AS the act uou stands we fad
the State with law under which 40
consistent church member can accept
an oGice. aud an institution of the State
unon which be cannot invoke Gods
blessing,
VII. TIE law, in its present shape is
particularly Objectionable because it
provides that the State shall 90 that
wh;ch the church has said caDuot be
done without siu.
VII It huwiliates. debases aod de-
ssroys public conscience in receiving for
education hush mouey-the price of
the eterual ruin Of immortal souls
such money as the Scsibes and Phari-
sees vho purchased the Savior's blood
refused to receive when returned to
them BY Judas Iscaros.
TX 1t is further objectional because
it gives the gloss Of respectabillty to a
traffic that undermines society, demoral-
ICES its victims, impoverishes Its citizens
aud becomes responsible for great ma
iority of the crimes aud the constant 10
fraction of the laws of the State
X. The sale of intoxicating liquors
as beverage, by individuals or by the
State. never being right, no good man
can consistently do other than protest
against any legal approval of the same
XI. The dispeusary law makes every
citizen stockholder, sharing 10 the pre-
its if there be any, and 10 the liablll.
ties, which are certain. See Habak'
kuk 2:l2, Is. "Woe to bin that glveth
his ueigbbor drink, that putteth thy
bottle TO him, and maketh him drunken
also. Woe to him that buildetb towr
with blood and establisbeth a city BY
iniquity.' This being true. the State
has covered with shame all of her c'tl'
zens, instead Of protecting them from
such dishonor as a true mother woule
her children
XII. TIE present law antagonlze'
the church, good society, makes crlml
nails and law-breakers of her citizens
as no man filed with liquor is any