Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1906-07-25
More A1,ti-whiskey Argument.

this week, aud, after giving Ut
terance to pleasant words, for
which We are duly grateful, en-
.deayors TO refute, seriatim, several
of the Advertisers editorial para
graphs which appeared in a.recent
issue.
First, he Gays that we are in
error in stating that all, whose
lives have been wrecked through
strong drink, began by its moder-
ate use. To this denial we will only
say that we have never seen or
heard of an Individual who became
q confirmed drunkard from the
moment that he took the first
drink. Granting, Mr.. Temperance,
that yeur contention is we'll found
ed. the few "drunkards who
plunged at once into intemper-
ancs,n whom you have observed,
being such infrequent exceptions
TO the rule, fail to establish your
point as to spent up appetites.
Mr.. Temperance says that there
are hundreds of sober men in
EdgeGeld county who, "when boys
were treated to a toddy" by their
mothers. On the other hand, we
might say, with equal emphasis,
that, IN the days gone by, a great
number of men. some Of whom we
could name, acquired taste for
LIQUOR and were made drunkards
by having "toddies" given them at
home. Some of these parents have,
with great anguish of soul. rued
the day that they caused their
boys to form the drink habit.
We would remind Mr.. Temper
apce, however, that great change
has been wrought in the matter OF
giving ''toddies" to boys. Time
was when the wine and whiskey
decanter could be seen upon near
ly every sideboard, the social
glass being one means of dlspen-
sing hospitality. What has caused
the once conspicuous decanter and
glass to gradually disappear al
most entirely? If we mistake net,
it was due to a full realization
that their presence and frequent
handling exercised a baneful in
fiuence in the, home. So it is With
serving .toddies". Some parents
who at first saw no harm in thus
pleasing the child gradually had
their eyes opened to the danger.
And just as the decanter was dig
carded in many homes, 30 giving
atoddyn to children was discontin-
ued by many parents. Mr.. Tenn
zperance, do you consider it wise,
prudent or safe to give a boy
Rhiskey, rendered palatable by
adding sugar, iua.sas you would
give him lemon ade or similar
Ebeyerages2g
Mr.. Temperance says that 1t is
hard TO decide which ls on safer
ground, q child that is taught that
there is no harm in a temperate
use of intoxicating liquors or the
one that is taught that whiskey is
the worlds greatest curse and
that he should abstain totally.
For us it is easy TO decide. Be-
lieying that, as q gentleman re-
marked to US once, "a man is
never safe after he takes his first
drink, we will teach our children
that there is no good in wbiskey
as q beverage; on the contrary,
much harm, and to let it severely
alone, telling them why it is best
to let it alone. That is what we
we're taught by precept and ex-
ample in childhood; and by reason
of that teaching we have always
been a total abstainer. The writer
has tried and proved the wisdom
and effectiveness of such teaching,
hence he is urging others to do
likewise. II have four reasons" !"
says an eminent scholar, "for
being an abstainer-my head is
clearer, my health is better, my
heart is lighter, and my purse is
heavier"
Juat in this connection, let US
show Mr.. Temperance n what a
dreadfully embarrassing and
humiliating plight it would he
possible, under his teaching, for
him to be placed. Suppose he
should SEQ his boy drinking from
q whisEey bottle in an alley, or
suppose he should by chance enter
a barroom and see his boy with
up-turned glass, drinking that
which maketh drunk. According
to your teaching, Mr.. Temperance,
could you consistently utter a
word of protest. Nay, verify. He
would turn and, fixing his trust
ing, confding eyes on yours, say:
"Father, I read where you said
that there is no harm in tenn
perate' use of whiskey, and that a
person is at liberty to drink it:
I am not abusing it, but only
exercising the 'liberty' of which
you spoke" Say, now, Mr.. Tenn
perance-shonor bright, as the
saying goes-would you not then
and there disappear through a
hole in the floor were i. possible,
OF conjnre the shades of Bacchus
to bear you away to less embar-
RAISING chimes. Do you not see