Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1900-08-22

creased. Intelligent and conser-
vative. observers estimate the re-
] duction at 80 per cent; it cannot
be less than 75.'' a 49,
Governor John A. Martin, an
opposer of the prohibitory amend
] ment when first agitated: { con-
verted by the results of:the law
in his farewell message to the
Estate Legislature, January, 1883,
said: Gully nine-tenths OF the
drinking and drunkenness, pre-
valent in Kansas eight years ago.
has beer abolished"
Judge w. C. Webb, of Kansas,
said, April 4, 1890: II voted in
1880 against the prohibitory
amendment. For four or five years
afterwards I thought my opinion
as to probable results was likely
to be vindicated. But it is not so
now. Prohibition has accomplish
ed vast deal of good, a thousand
fold more than any license law
lever did or ever could.
William Larabee, at first an op-
poser, wrote Feb. 16, 1883: 81
think more than half of the ialls
in this State are empty at the
present time. The families OF Ia
boring men now receive the bene-
lifts Of the earnings that formerly
went to the saloons, There is no
question in my mind but that the
law is doing good for the people.
The law has more friends in the
State than itever had before" ~
1 have not space to maltiply
such endorsements of prohibition
in Maine, Kansas, and Iowa from
citizens of these states. They
ought to know. Their endorse
ment, let me say, refers to the
time preceding 1890. The COM
mittee of fifty made it's report
some two or three years ago. I
regret that [ cannot give the ex-
act date. To me it seems incredi-
BILE that there could have occur
red such a total change in these
states during the four years that
intervened, as would justify tbs
report made by that committee. /
am not prepared to believe it, and
Il expect yet to obtain convincing
reasons for my incredulity.
Let it never be forgotten that
llquor dealers are opposed to pro-
3libitlon. They fight it everywhere.
''The Brewer and Malster" OF Chi
cago, the organ of the liquor ia
terest, speaking of the Iowa
"Mulet law," said IF the Mulet
law is pronounced dfunconstitution-
al, the prohibition law will be in
force again, and even the present
saloon business, different as tits
on account of the conditions i'm
posed by the "Mulet law" ought
not to be subjected to The risk Of
Adjustment Saloon authority
here tells the truth, unpalatable
as it may be to the trade. The
saioon business will be ''suhjected
to the risk of abolishment" under
the prohibition law. If prohibit:
ton lis such a complete failure,
then liquor papers and liquor deal
ers ought to work f or it. They
neyer do.
Lett never be forgotten that,he
liquor traffic is the most pitiless
and most effective enemy OF home,
of society, and of Chrlst's King
dom. Its history is one continuous
record of wrong, crime, poverty,
shame, violence, and death.
It's the duty of all Christians
TO oppose it, wheresoever and by
whomsoever conducted. They can
destroy it, If they will stand united
in persistent, fearless effort. This
greatest curse of the human race
will continue its deadly work yet
longer; how long l know not, but
it will ultimately be destroyed. |
believe its doom is certain, because
1 believe the Kingdom of Christ
will ultimately prevail in all the
eartn, q consummation lmpossl-
BILE till the liquor traffic is de-
5troYed.
I believe the Bible gives no ap-
proval to the use of intoxicating
wines, but plainly condemns their
use; in some places utters posi-
tive prohibition against them, in
others pronounces Gods woe upon
those who suffer themselves to be
deceived thereby OR help to ruin
others thereby. l regret that Sc
we're sickness, since l decided to
write, has prevented me from dis
cussing this phase of the question
before the coming primary. | hope
yet to discuss ii.
I have absolute faith in the COM
mon sense view that the Bible does
not contradict itself on any moral
issue, The ''cup Of tlessing,"
which it commencs, cannot be the
same as the poison and curse Of
the cup which it condemns. t
The Bible, being Gods word,
cannot, does not countenance this
fruitful source of 80 much sln and
woe. I have yet found no valid
reason for changing NY convic-
ton. In my creed, honest conVic-
ton can make no compromisr