Goldsboro weekly argus. [volume] (Goldsboro, N.C.) 1885-1909, 1905-11-09
KNOW THE TRUTH
AND h TRUTH SHALL
MAKE YOU FREE.
Some Facts and Thoughts Fol-
the Consideration OF Voters
Who are to Determine
the Bar-rOOm Issue
In The Coming
Election.
FOOLISH.

What is? The licensing of
the sale of alcoholic drinks. 1t
is mild to call it foolish; but
just now let us look at it in this
aspect. We Will try to keep
clear of all exaggeration, and
advert to palpable facts, which
nobody can deny. And may
God so direct us that our pen
shall put the matter in a just
light.
We all know that the COM
mon use of these drinks vastly
increases poverty, idieness, sell
fish disregard of duty, violence,
robbery and murder. Wives
are abused and fastened to
their graves, children cruely
neglected, the peace of cities
and towns imperiled, the repu-
tation and safety of this great
nation endangered by it. And
all who believe the word of
God, must believe that the COM
mon sale of these drinks tends
to bring into everlasting mis-
cry a multitude of priceless
souls. IF Bny do not believe so
much the worse for themselves
and others. We talk Of educa-
ton, and justly, as one Of the
| grandest instrumentalities for
perpetuating our nation. Yet,
educated drunkards in Con-
gress, at the bar, or as physic-
ians, or in any highly infuen-
tial station, may do, and US
ualiy will do, vastly more to-
wards the destruction of this
nation than they could have
| done uneducated. This state
snent needs Eo proof. But the
sale Of Intoxicating drinks tends
to multiply druDkards in all
these walks Of society. In fact,
it is one of the chief agencies
for debasing and destroying
men,, soul and body; for infict-
ling a multitude of woes upon
the community, making life
and property insecure, and
creating the necessity of sup.
porting at the expense of the
people, an array of officials tx
look after the criminals whom
the State has enticed int
crime; occasioning immenst
Pc uperism, for which temperate
Ioitizens must be taxed, along
with the rest; and while infict
ling these tremendous evils, &C
cumulative as they flow on, do
ling 20 good whatever. o
course I refer not to tbs use Q
alcohol for mechanical purposes
nor the small quantities tina
may be required as medicine
but I refer to it as a drink. IL
should be admitted that its us
as such has not apparentl
harmed certain individuals
there is no denying that il
Icommon use is one Of the mos
pernicious agencies known
this or any other land
This beirg perfectly evident, VIII
would benevolence, Justice, nay, Il
!. instinct of self-preservation instru
the state to do? Do?, why, suppre
It utterly; shut up Or divert to
honest business, every dram-sho
high car low; quench the fires ofeve
\ di.tiliery; enforce just temperan
v laws so far as they exist aud supp
n their lack; and turn out all .unfait
III ful officials; and as soon as. may
III put an everlasting end to the V
II traffic. Now, we ask, is it not
premely foolish for a Christian ST
If to sell for a paltry sum, the privile
! to a selfish man of destroying
M neighbors, and in aiding in the d
truction of the nation? The st
. knows that m any a dramsell
whom it licenses, will do just Il
or if it does not know it, it is phi
bly, ignorant.
Is it not simp'e? The state p;
hi large sums for making laws agai
crimes, and for prisons, and then
= self opens upon the public the slut
i, of crime, like the breaking away
g the dykes, of Holland; building Il
/ little, or pretending to, with
hand, and pulling down ten time
| much with the other. Is not th'
foolish, aye, wicked sin against {
e and mankind? Men of sense, Oh
n -