The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1906-09-05
The Lexington Dispatch.
Wednesday, September 5. 1906.
A. Few Thoughts From Che
Cora Field.
To the Editor of the Dispatch:

To the Editor OF the Dispatch:
It is my desire to suggest a few
thoughts on the subject CT Temper
ance, but greatly feel my inability
to handle it, though it is occupying
the minds Of great many learned
men and women, fear it is too
greatly neglected in ourpublic schools
also our Sunday schools and churches.
We call this beautiful country in
which we live Christian America, and
we are proud of our country. We boast
of our freedom and religious privileges.
But alas this great evil of strong
drink is here with us; it not only oc-
cupies the dark places of earth, but it
has a prominent place in our gov
ment.
Statistics tell US that more than
four million (4,OOO,0o0 voters in the
United States go to the ballot boxes
every election day to elect men into
Office to make and control laws for
our country, though strange as it
may be with our country dotted with
so many churches, filled with so many
voters, there still remains the great
est sin making devices the worlds
history ever knew. Now I have not
a word of abuse for any one who is
given to the habit of strong drink,
but heart full of sorrow and SYM
pathy for any one who is overtaken
by this evil.
1t is owing to diversity of action
that there is one whiskey establish
ment left in America today. 1t is for
the church people of this country to
say when this evil shall end. tits be-
cause the twenty-three million 49,
oOO,0oO) people in the United States
who are prominent in church work
do not say that it shall end.
I frequently see in papers articles
arguing prohibition does not prohibit,
I would like to say that law against
strong drink would prohibit in the
same degree as the law against steal
ing prohibits stealing. Since the day
God handed to Moses the table of
stone, we have had the law against
stealing etc., from that day until this;
the violation of that law has been
common; then is the law failure?
by no means. We who violate that
law must suffer the penalty.
No one would ever think of con-
tending that prohibition law would
prohibit, when it's enforcement is in
the hands of men who are opposed to
it, or who lack moral courage neces-
sary to enforce the law. What we
need is men in Office who love the law
and will maintain it in it's enforce
ment, especially is this true in this
law. It is of no use to place a prohi-
bition law in the hands of its enemies
for enforcement. It is sure to be a
failure.
Awake citizens Enough human
lives have already been offered on
the alters of our selfishness aud neg
lect. The liquor business is a dis
grace to our government and our
legislators should see to it that this
foul blot upon our Christian civiliza-
ton should be removed. If we break
the fetters of this terrible evil it must
be done through legislators. Legisla-
tors are secured by ballots, and bal
lots are cast by citizens. A man
must take square and unmistakable
stand for the right or for the wrong,
for righteousness of for evil, for hap
piness or for misery, for justice or for
oppression.
As for me, I am heart and soul
against the liquor traffic.
P. G. KooN.
Gilbert, S. c., August 25, 1906.