The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1905-12-27
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, December II, 1905.
Whv T am Not a ?rohibitionist.

T. is not any unusual thing to meet
a man who to all outward appearance
stands for sobriety, but he is not a
prohibitionist. BE says many things
shat sound and seem good, but when
he airs himself on the liquor traffic
he shows all manner of inconsistency.
He says l am not prohlbitionist,
frat, because some of the leaders of
the prohibition movement are drunk
ards and liquor sellers. Now, grant
ing that he is correct in this state
ment it does not follow that he is
wise or good because he objects to
prohibition for this reason. The sick
need the physician. Shall We con-
demn doctors aud physic because
they are sought by the sick? The
folly cf doing so would be no greater
than to condemn prohibition or the
efforts being made in it's behalf be-
cause some OF it's advocates are or
have been drunkards or liquor deal
ers. Our objector is or claims to be
q Christian. Has it ever occurred tc.
him that to be consistent he would
have to abandon Christianity the very
moment he saw or had reason to be-
ileve that sinners were seeking the
light and blessings Of Christianity.
Is he ready to do thai? II 90, he is
consissant mar; but his consistency
has forced him to abandon the bene-
fits of Christ. Second, he objects to
prohibition because it does not pro-
hibit. Ia he correct in this state
ment2 Let the triumph of Japan
over Rossia answer this question. "
was the prohibition OF intoxicants
among the japanese troops which
prohibited the success OF the Russian
troops. Russia, a representative OF
the white race, worshipping, it may
be said, at the shrine of beauty and
bottles" by her defect on the field of
battle answers our ohj-ctor that pro-
hibition does prohibit. The Chriatian
world bss been put to shame by the
.heathen. For centuries the Christian
world has been making experiments
with licenses, government ownership,
and adcxology" ssloons, while the
heather have been crying ''stop
drinking intoxicants and stop selling
them = ALI Europe and America are
now waking up, and the thought
spreads that the worlds govern
ment now forming at Hagore will
grow the acorn of international pro-
hibition into tree whose lea7es shall
be for The healing of all nations" In
the face of all the facts now before
the observant mind, the man who
relies rpon the plea that prohibition
does not prohibit. advertises the fact
that he is blind or base. Butfor the
third reason we hear our objector
say: 'smen have always drank and
they will continue to drink. Does
that prove that it is right and best
for them to SC do? This objection
if it proves anything proves too
much. No good or wise man will
rely upon it. See, where it would
lead. The first boy born into the
world committed murder. No one,
except possibly our objector would,
from that fact insist that all men
should have the right to commit
murder from their choice. To be
prohibitionist means to get away
from intoxicants. If the taste is too
great for our objector I leave him
with the reminder of Mr.. Wolley,
that selection day is the cross-exam-
ination ofithe prayer meeting"
Joab Edwards.