The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1905-12-01
OF On History.
Tothr Editor Ocala Banner.

Toth- Editor Ocala Banner.
In your issue of the 23rd inst. under
the caption of s'To the Voters" there
are several paragraphs discussing the
temperance situation in your county.
In one instance the writer or writers
quote the Hon. Ben Tillman as
follows:
ssWhen I hear a fellow get up and
key being blood money, 1 look back
to the history of the world. | find
that no man, no preacher, priest or
statesman ever dreamed of attempt
ing to prohibit the use of liquor until
about Is or 100 years ago, have not
undertook until the last so years to
say that man should not drink or
that it was a sim"
1t is evident from the above quota
ton that the Hon. Ben Tillman, of
South Carolina, is ignorant of past
history. AS a matter of fact the
legal and historical writings of Zeno-
pbon, Plato, Anthaenus, Plutarch,
Pliny, Dion of Halicarnarsus. Diony-
orous Siculus, Strabo, and others are
replete with edicts and instances
showing that drunkenness was treated
as great crime.
Several of the Pharoahs issued strin-
gent mandates against drunkenness
and the ominous ceremony of placing
in the center of the banquet table,
when thewin was beginning to tell''
a skeleton crowned with funeral
wreaths, dates from these days.
Among the many devices to check
intemperance, was a law that the
friends and relations of the dead
should abstain from all wine for a
certain time (from 40 to 20 days sub
seuuent to DEATH according to the
rank and station of the departed,
which is significant of the great
respect really felt for temperance.
In Athens the severe laws of Draco
condemned to death any person con-
victed of being drunk. The wise
laws of Scion condemned an archonot
to a heavy fine for the first time he
was Intoxicated, and in case of re-
lapse to death: A citizen seen to
enter drinking shop was dishonored
forever and no more was required to
cause the Punishment of a senator
from the AreOpagus.
In martial, brave, but cruel Sparta
where domestic affection was
crushed out by law, and the common
decencies and moralties held in con
tempt in accordance with the Lycur-
gan institutions, which among Other
things enjoined common public baths
for both sexes, and placed no res
traint on the sexual appetites - they
did fear the results of drinking. In
fact Lycurgus gave the command
that annually the helOtes of Sparta
should be Intoxicated, and of the
orgies ensuing among them the youth
should be made spectators, to infust
in them aversion to drink.
According to DionysiOus of Halicar
nassus, Romulus promulgated law
which permitted the husband to Kill
his wife for drinking wine, as fol
committing adultery The death pen
atty for adultery was frequently in
fiicted in the early days of Rome, and
Pliny relates that certain Ignatius
Mecennius having killed his wife fol
having drunk wine was acquitted by
Romulus.
The famous vine-planting edict
which forbade throughout the Empire
the further culture of the vine, and
commanded the destruction of one
half the vines then fiOurishing in its
vast dependencies, was issued by
Rome's worst debauchee, the Emper-
or Domitian, signifies how profound
was the dread of the effects of drink
ing upon the nations life and pros
perity, sven as felt by one of its most
supine votaries. This edict remained
in force for one hundred and eighty