The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1901-03-20
A plunderer of Homes.


ruins OF its supporters, which derives
iss revenues from its pluuder of homes
and from the defraudiug of helpless |
childhood, from the degradation of |
manhood; which requires for its pros
perity the injury of the community;
which ministers to every vile and VIC
ious passion and propensity, which
makes drunkards and thieves and em-
bezzlers aud gamblers aud wife heaters
and murderers; which brutalizes and
degrades all who are brought in con-
tact with it, cannot claim.the respect,
aud assurediy ought not to be able to
claim the encouragement of the com
munity.
1t indeed indicates the extent of
TIC prevalent Generalization that
business so Inherently infamous, so
unquestionably against public policy,
should have been permitted to estab-
lish itself SO firmly that those who
pursue :: aTe convinced, not only that
it is legitimate, but. that it is "enti-
tied to protection and respect"
But upon what ground do these
bold claims rest?
Wha, constitutes q legitimate, re-
spectacle business?
Is business which debauches, i'm
poverishes and Injuries the public,
either the one or the other?
When such questions have to be
asked it ;s time that they were settled
definitely.
At present rum sei!;ng 6 Is technically
legitimate.
Thatiis to say, it is not unlawful.
But since its consequences arc
what we see, it would be an abuse os
language to term it respectable.
But it does not stop at these inso-
lent pretensions.
ttells the people it has the politi.
Gel powers, that it is organized, and
that it will fight reform and temper
ance with the votes Of the unfortunates
it has imbruited.
This, then, is what the community
has to sace.
Il must either submit to the politi-
cal supremacy Of the rum sellers, it
must either bow 60 their standard Of
morals and declare them to be entitled
to protection and res p,ct," or it must
make up its mind to conflict, the
aim and cad Of which shall be the
over throw of this abominable abuse,
and the protection Of the masses
against the worst foe of civilization.
They will oppose any reform what
ever.
They deny the rights Of tne people
to protect themselves at ALL
They claim the right for themselves
to poison and brutalize and degrade all
whom they can reach.
They think they will be supported
in this blythe public they fleece and
ipjure, and upon the persistence of
whose animal appetites they coarsely
calculate.
Hitherto they had unhappily been
justified in this dependence.
The men who had most cause to
loathe the business have been among
the frst.to uphold and fortify it.
But change is even now passing
over public opinion.
It is becoming more and more gen.
! orally recognized that iatemperance is
at the bottom Of two-thirds Of the So
cial, political and moral evils that re-
tard progress aud perplex and harass
the legislator.
1t is being oomp:ohended that an
effective'.eranohise requires sobriety
and intelligence in the voter.
In fact, it is being realized that the
future Of the country depends largely
upon mastering the elements which
have sheir origin in and derive ell
their strength from rum, and which
initiate at every turn against good
government, pure social conditions,
religion and progress.-N. Y. Tri-
bunc.
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