The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1905-05-19

! of units, that each man is a social
uni:. and with reference to this
question, he is either a temperance
Unit or a drink unit Here is a man,
who owns and operates a distillery.
Is he temperance unit or drink
unit? I will ask the questions. Do
you answer them. Here is a man
who operates a wholesale liquor
house. Is he a temperance unit or
drink unito Here is man who is
the proprietor OF a retail liquor
house. IS he temperance unit or
drink unit? Here is a man, who conf
bines with other men, and Il lips to
bring into the community large GUAM
titles of Intoxicating liquors to be
used by the citizens of the commune
ity. Is he a temperance unit or
drink Unit? Here is a man, who
offers his friend a drink from a bot
tie of dispensary whiskey. Is he a
temperance unit or a drink unit?
Here is man who gets drunk, goes
home and beats his wife. Is he a
temperance unit or drink unit?
Here is a man who drinks his full
share OF the whiskey that is con-
sumed in the community. but only
occasionally gets under its influence
Is he a temperance unit or drink
unit? Here is a man who drinks
steadily little every day, but never
gets drunk Is he a temperance
unit or drink unit? Here is the man
who takes only an occasional drink
OF whiskey. Is he drink unit or
temperance unit? Do you have any
difficulty III answering? Then let
me ask you one other question-on
which side is his influence? I firmly
believe that it is the occasional drink
er, who makes possible the mainte-
nance of distilleries, breweries, sa-
looms and dispensarics. Docs any
one suppose that the drunkards and
hard drinkers support all who are
engaged in the traffic. If we believ--
ed it. in ten years from now there
would not be drop of liquor manu-
factured in the whole land for such
use. The great majority of men who
drink are occasional drinkers, moder-
ate drinkers. men who do not drink
enough in their own estimation or
in the estimation of the community
ito do any HARM" who drink just e.
nough to array their influence and
their example on the side of drink,
to make themselves drink units. It
there were only two classes, if there
were only the incorporate and the
drunkards on the one hand, and on
the other those who touch not,
taste not, handle not, the temperance
problem would be solved. Prohibi-
tory measures would be enforced;
and better than that, when the pres
ent generation of drunkards died out,
we would have no more forever; for
drunkards are not made full grown
The drunkard is an evolution He is
evolved from the occasional drinker.
There is no missing link here.
The very fact that these occasional
drinkers are to be found among the
most influential men in society but
adds to the force OF the argument
that the greatest obstacle in the way
of the temperance reform is the man
who takes an occasional drink. He
does not for moment think that
his occasional drinking involves any
moral wrong. or works any social
evil, that it either brings harm to
himself or others. He regards drink
ing as matter that concerns only
himself and is disposed to resent
advice Or suggestion on the subject
He feels that so long as he is temper
ate. so long as he does not go to ex-
cess he is open to no criticism, and
no one can question his right to
drink. l am not judging any mans
conduct in this matter. We are all