Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-03-05

So, before we form an alliance with
this agency for evil, we had better sit
down and count the cost. If we form
this union, we need never expect to be
from this wicked partner.
We may cry: Who will deliver US from
the body of this death? But our cries
will be in vain. Our children may con-
denim US for inflicting this burden up
on them; but unless the laws are
changed, or the men who have charge
Of this business are changed, If we
put dispensary here 1t Is here to
stay. For there always will be some
men in a town the size Of Yorkville
who will advocate whisky, until the
millennium comes.
4. THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN voT-
ING FOR THE DIsPENsARY AND IN KEEP
ING THE DIsPENsARy AS FAR AS MORAL
CONDUCT IS CONCERNED. One Is just as
bad as the other.
The voter may be little farther re-
moved from the evil than the dispenser,
as far as time and place are concern
ed; but, when we look at the question
of cause and effect, Is the voter not
nearer the evil than the dispenser?
While the business cannot be conduct
ed without the dispenser, 1t cannot be
established without the voter. The dis
penser Is simply putting into operation
an institution which has been created
by the voter. The dispenser Is guilty,
but not more so than the voter. There
is no process Of logic Or reasoning that
can overthrow this position. No prog
ress can be made in this gigantic evil
without the concurrence and help Of
the voter.
Oh, what a responsibility rests upon
the voter. And I tell you, my friends,
God is going to count the votes.
When I know this: and, further, when
I know that there are mothers and
wives and daughters and little child
rem who cannot vote in this matter, but
who are to be in all probability direct
ly and seriously affected by the settle
ment of this issue, I would have my
right arm cut off before I would aid
by my vote business that entails so
much misery on mankind.
I am going to vote as I pray and as
I profess. I may be inconsistent in
some things: but, in this matter, I am
determined that my practice shall not
brand my prayers and my professions
with the lie.
Suppose that dispensary should be
established in Yorkville, and that one
of the elders of this church should be
appointed dispenser and should accept
the position. What a howl you would
hear! How the membership Of this
church and the entire community
would cry, INCONSISTENCY! And yet
this elder would not be doing a great
er wrong than the man who votes for
the dispensary.
Let me emphasize this responsibility.
We have to meet 1t. We may shirk
our work, but we can't shirk our re-
sponsibility. We can't throw our re-
sponsibility off on somebody else. It
will not do for us to say that we will
let the state and the town assume this
responsibility. The man who votes for
the dispensary may think that his re-
sponsibility ends there; but what a
mistake! He is responsible for what
the dispensary does. 1t Is his institu-
tion-the creature Of his own hand.
He not only made 1t possible, but he
made it real He opens up stream
of iniquity that continues to flow. 1t
may flow on after he is dead, and no
doubt will, making drunkards and
bringing misery and poverty into many
homes. Who is responsible for all this
Certainly the men who deliberately Gre
ated this agency for evil cannot come
clear. Thus you can see how far
reaching a mans responsibility Is In
this matter.
5. I AM OPPOSED TO THE DIsPENsARY
ON PRINCIPLE. I know there are many
who can't appreciate this position. For
many are governed by policy instead
Of principle; many are ruled by money
instead Of morals; many are dominated
by greed for gain instead Of the great
est good. But know there are some
who have advocated the dispensary at
different times that can appreciate
principle. To such I would speak; for
I do not believe they have carefully
considered this question in all its bear
ings from the viewpoint Of principle.
There is something necessarily wrong
with a business that is sure to bring
crime and misery into the community
and that is sure to erect an insupera-
BILE barrier in the way Of some men get
ting to heaven. The dispensary is just
as sure to do these things as 1t is es-
tablished. Therefore, cannot vote for
1t. I consider it an unmitigated evil
an enemy to the church, an enemy to
the truth, an enemy to man, an enemy
to the best interests Of the community,
an enemy to God.
If every man In Yorkville would run
a blind tiger, I would not vote for the
dispensary. If the dispensary would
pay all our taxes, would not vote for
it. If the establishment of dispen-
sary here would make every man In
Yorkville a millionaire, I would not
vote. for it. Principle cannot be
bought; it is not for sale.
I never expect to cast my vote for
the establishment Of that which know
is going to bring evil into the commu-
nifty. I would not do such thing, If
1 could. I could not, If I would. 1
am not going to assume such an awful
and sweeping responsibility. I am go
ing to keep my skirts clear. No one