The Grenada sentinel., 1899-02-04
THE WAIsKEY QUESTION.


Editor &ntinel:-The articles b,
Judge Roaue and Mr.. W. NJ. Dubari
on the above subject in recent issues
Of your paper are timely and worthy
the consideration Of all people. As i,
is likely to continue to agitate the pub.
lie miud for some time yet, wish to
submit a few thoughts upon it.
1t is urged that the open saloon
proves fruitful source Of revenue to
the county, and that the school fund
especially falls short on account of pre-
hibition. Granting this to be true,
would it not he far better to supply the
deficit ty direct tax than to license
men to sell that which makes drunk
ards Of SO many of our best young men
and carries desolaton and ruin into
80 many homes? Then be it remem-
bered that every dollar paid into tie
treasury for the privilege of selling
whiskcy is primarily from the pockets
of the people of the county. live must
license this evil, why not others? such
as gambling or harlotry? Some would
be willing to be taxed in order TO gain
the protection of law for such things,
and the terms of our schools might be
heightened thereby, but am sure very
few could be induced to put their
names to petitions for such things, yet
l insist the open saloon is more pro-
ductive OF evil than either of those,
The free schools have proven II great
blessing to our people, it is natural
therefore for them to regard with a |
jealous eye any effort apparent or real,
to curtail them, but shall we sustain
even that which Is so good and needful
by So nefarious thing as the liquor
traffic. The highest law of the uni
verse tire Bible) teaches that W. should
not do evil that good may come. So
the man who admits that the sale OF
whiskey is an evil, and then votes for
saloons for the sake of the taxes they
pay, or for any other reason, places
himself 10 autagonism with Gods
Word.
II is also said there is more whiskey
sole now than when We had open sa-
looms We're this true am persuaded
all those who run blind tigers would
become proh;bitionists, since it evil
dentiy costs much less 10 run the BUSH
ness under prohibitory laws. Granting,
however, for the sake Of argument,
that he claim be true, insist no man
can afford to vote for the sale of whis-
key, for if I do SO, I am responsible to
the full extent Of my power for every
man who is made q drunkard, every
home that is made unhappy, every
who is broken hearted, every |
child who becomes an orphan and every I
crime that is committed as result of '
this baneful business. On the other |
hand, if cast my vote and influence d
against itand it is sold i,herunder the i
sanction OF law or against law, my hands
are clean, my conscience clear, thou t
canst not say ] did it, |
In circulating petitions among the '
people for the Board of Supervisors TO J
order an election, some are perhaps t
induced to>sign them by the plea ARE t
you not willing for the people to vote
on tte qnestion?' At first thought it
seems little unfair not to do so, bu, '.
was the right of petition reserved by y
the people in order that they should :,
sign every petition presented to them,
7ven though they should deem change
lnwise; ManifesfIy not. On the con- ',
LrarE, We should only use our right of
petition when we believe it to be nee
'ssdry to get rid OF obnoxious laws or
% have such enacted as will promote
he happiness and welfare of the cpun- Fl
ry' Respectfully, "
r. B. WILLIAMSON. D