The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-10-02

Suppose a mass meeting of all the citi-
Ger of Abbeville was called for to-
morrow and after the discussion of
this temperance subject each individ-
ual be asked to help settle the much
vexed question. Some n would i'm
mediately rise and move that VIZ vote
out liquor. Another would second the
motion, and when the motion was
called the ayes would sound almost
unanimous. Now, would that settle
the question? Make another SUPPOSE
ton. Suppose in that meeting a cru.
SADIE was begun In behalf of humanity
and each man was asked to pledge
himself to use atithout abusing himself
in the use Of spirit4ous liquors, and
suppose that every soul in the city was
asked to join in this crusade. Now,
in your candid judgment, which Of
these two suggestions do you think
would be indicative of the most good
for humanity-which?
In the n case the law is expected
to do the work; in the other case the
people who made the law would do
the work. Which Is the. more potent,
the law or the people who make the
law?
We prohibition people sometimes
shift vi responsibility to the shout
ders of the law. We see the evil and
feel that we must do something and
something comes and whisper, vote
prohibition, and we vote it. This
done, We interlock our fingers, and
with a benign smile, mentally pat our
own backs in utmost satisfaction at
the good accomplished, when In real
ity we have done absolutely nothing
toward temperance, Like. the ostrich,
we stick our heads in the sands of the
prohibition bill, thinking that we are
unexposed to the attacks of intemper.
ance, when it would be mnch better
for US II our heads were not In the
sands at all!
The majority Of US prohibitionists
are Pharisees of the strictest sect. We
say our Pharisaical prohibition pray
ers and wear u purple robes Of alb
stainanoe and pay all our votive offer
ings according to the rule of the syna-
lgogue ; but when we meet with the
man who has fallen in with the, rob
bers of intemperance, we hold up the
skirts of u silken garments and pass
by on the other side.
We are very willing to settle the
Question by vote, but we are not will
ing to 60 to the individual and lift
him up, the only way by which the
question can be settled. .
When does your minister impress
you as accomplishing the most; when
from the pulpit he urges all his parish.
toners to vote the prohibition ticket at
the coming election or when he ap-
proaches some poor man who has
fallen under the habit, who feels that
his friends are gone and that be ia an
outcast, takes him by the hand, leads
him up, supports him, and shows him
that 80 long as he lives in him he has
a friend. Which has done the most
for the sot, and temperance?
You 4 at home. A little boy IL
playing with a vine that you know tc
be poison ivy. Do you 60 and get the
poison vine and throw it over the
fence; or do you call the little boy to
you and explain that q vine of this
kind is dangerous, and show him ex'
amples of what it has done and reason
with him that it is always best te
avoid this particular kind of vine +
Unless the boy knows that it is dan.
gerous and for that reason you do moi
want him to have it he is likely to
wait until your back is, turned and
seek it again. If he concludes tina,
you threw 1t over the fence merely tc
keep him from having it human ma.
ture will drive him to 60 over the
fence after it. Teach him that it is
your feeling for him that causes the 80.
licitude and he will not knowingly
touch 1t.
No, we are not ~teetolers and white
ribboners because we hate spirituous
liquors. W. know that they have q
place among US and will continue to
hold it. We cannot do without them
but, oh, you love pots, you sponges,
you systematic seakers, you tuns and
toss pots, you bibacious gin guzzlers,
you groggy rum lushers, you are the
cause of all this fight and furry.
Temperance people cannot see you
ruin your families, your bodies, and
your souls and stand idly by with
folded hands. They feel that they
must do something to stop you! They
must cut up the poison ivy vine and
throw it over the fence. They must
forego all ferments because of your
bibulous dipsimonia and you, you are
the cause of the white ribbon. 1t Il
not because they detest whiskey bu,
because they cannot brook your pot
valiant, scottish ways. Oh, that you
would stop and give US peace!