The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1898-04-13
Suffering acknowledgements.

Suffering acknowledgements.
Mr.. EDITOR: We zee and hear good
deal about relief for suffering humanity,
all of which is right and proper and IN
keeping with Divine instruction. There
is State and National relief for disabled
soldiers and their families; for commune
ties suffering from disease, cyclones.
floods etc.; general relief of the poor and
needy every where: for suffering nations,
as Cuba, Armenia and India, and soon
throughout the world, but where is there
actual relief for the thousands fpoor
deluded sufferers from the use Of intoxi-
eating beverages? Who comes to the re-
lief of the sixty thousand or more Of our
fellow citizens who fill annually in the
United States as many drunkard's
graves? Not relief, it is true, of money,
food, clothing, etc, but the relief of free
dom from the iron chains of fintoxication.
In less than ten years we lose by strong
drink directly and indirectly, nearly as
many people as the entire population OF
Cuba, and yet there is no parade made
over it-no legal efforts put forth to arrest
such a havoc. Sometimes there is tho
much misdirected sympathy-a wonder
fnl amount in some directions and little
or none in others. National and State
authorities can provide means and ways
for the relief of all other sufferers except
the greatly be- pitied victims of strong
drink. Indeed, in place Of throwing a
shield around them, they legaliZe and
foster the manufacture and dispensation
of the very beverages that prove their
ruin; yea, take the work of dispensing
into their own hands, aud thus spread
the rgian wings ofState over the ruinous
liuuor traffic. Is it not time that some
thing should be done to relieve these snf
ferers, and to remove so fruitful source
of trouble, and to show due respect for
the expressed wishes Of the people? 1t
should be rsmem bered that many ine-
briates are in Il degree powerless to shake
Oft the shackles that bind them, and are
more the objects Of pity than Of blame.
True, they ought not have tampered with
thing whose very nature is to slowly
but surely forge its chains around them.
In this they are to blame.e But unfor-
tunately the habit has become established
and external help is needed. I have
never met with drunkard yet who, in
his sober moments, did not wish for the
removal out Of reach of all intoxicants.
How carefully ought men toguard them
selves against contracting habit so hard
to shake off, and especially young men.
Let them resist with all their strength
every enticement to drink while they
hold the balance Of power, lest losing
that they become the unhappy objects OF
human commiseration. One of the most
talented and kind hearted men South
Carolina ever produced informed the
writer that on the periodical returns OF
thirst for drink which he suffered, be
would sacrifice everything on earth for
liquor to quench it, even if necessary
abandon his wife and children. What is
to be done, therefore, in behalf of such
sufferers aud to prevent others from con-
tracing the same deplorable habit? Only
one thing certainly, and that is. put all
intoxicating beverages out of their reach
by proper legislation. Not legislate, as
has been done, to put them in their
reach and entice them to drink. Let it
be rem em bered that the aooe is not pro-
nounced against the man who drinks,
but the man who puts the bottle to his
neighb boris lips to induce him to drink.
The Church, temperance organizations,
aud various other means. have in some
degree, no doubt, decreased dintemperance,
but nothing but the strong arm OF the
law will ever arrest it. 1t is most won
derful that the So called dispensary law
should ever have been thought of rs
remedy for intemperance. 1t is hard to
account for the judgment Of men who
honestly, no doubt, thought so. 1t can
only be accounted for on the ground that
they really regarded it simply as sub
stitute for the open saloon, and not a
remedy for the evil.
Oh! ye legislators, what are ye going to
do for the relief of your brethren, who
are bound in chains by the habit of drink
and who are crying, NO man careth for
u.s." Can't you kindle up spark OF
sympathy for them, and looking upon
them ss blood OF your blood and bone OF
your bone, offer them some assistance.
Fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters and
wives call long and loud for some relief.
Society, desiring to maintain its place in
the esteem OF all good men and women,
and contribute to the we'll being and hap
piness of mankind, calls for relief. Yea.
the people in Township, County, State,
government call for it. Humanity cries
aloud for it, and the Church prays and
plead that relief may come. Nav 1t come
and that quickly. SESEAl;.
Beware of 0intments for Catarrh that
Contain Mercury,