The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-05-13
Fayors Prohibition.

Favors Prohibition.
Editor The Bamberg Herald: Not
word for or against prohibition IN
Bamberg. What does this mean! II
is being agitated elsewhere. Why
this death-like stiffness? ....
No excuse can be given for the peo-
pie of Bamberg county, one OF the
smallest and bloodiest counties In the
State, to spend each year for wh1skey
over $4,000, or an equivalent OF l.
500 bales of cotton at present prices.
The town people want whiskey
sold under existing conditions, be-
cause it lowers the town tax, and
puts plenty of money in the treas
ury for civic Improvements.
1t is the poor country people,
white and colored, that drink the
most of the liquor. I don't believe
would make any error when / say the
colored people spend ten times as
much for whiskey as they pay taxes.
From December l., 1907, to February
l, 1909, ten negro men and two ne
gro women were killed in Bamberg
county, every one caused by whlskey
and low morals-a natural sequence
of whiskey- drinking. No such record
stains the annals of any 399 square
miles, when we consider that these
persons were killed by their own fel-
lows, separately and severally. In
each case a bottle of whiskey was IN
evidence.
Before the civil war this would
have meant a loss of $4,000 and
there would have been howl raised.
AS it is, nothing is said about it.
Every farmer knows that nearly
every man on his farm must go to
some town every Saturday. All his
cash goes to the dispensary; his sup
plies are bought on credit. Is it any
wonder that they cannot pay out!
White farmers who, several years
ago, were Independent are now
dead broke" This is not surpris-
ing, when every tenth bale of cotton
goes for whiskey. Each year the
country is getting poorer; what will
the result be? Calamity is staring
US in the face.
The town people are seeing only
the bright side of the situation. You
may be saving taxes, but losing ten
times more in some other way. I live
in the country and am seeing the
darker side. Not only are our older
men ruined, but the young men, the
future of our country, are loyal sub
jects of King Alcohol.
What breaks up our homes threat
ems our existence.
The influx of dollars into your
town has obscured your vision, and
buoyed you up, but your prosperity
is a spurious one, it's foundation Is
on sand, and it will fall. If you are
looking at it in business light, you
had better change your views quick
ly.
The farmers are the foundation of
your welfare, with them you rise or
fall.
Whiskey steals away mems
brains and units them for work.
Whiskey is not only expensive in
itself, but the time lost, the hired
hands idling, what result can you ex-
pect but ruin?
Have you forgotten the miracle of
Christ feeding 5000 men with five
loaves of bread and two small fishes?
A little with the Lords blessing will
go farther than millions without it.
20, ye of little faith"
Outraged humanity cries out
against it. Can you stop your ears?
II 80, you must have hearts Of stone.
The burden falls. heaviest on women
and children, robbing them of the
sweetness OF life.
Right here in Bamberg county, the
enlightened, the progressive, Is a
poor man with large family of boys
and girls. These children never at
tend the public schools, some Of
them have never been inside a
church. Why?
The father drinks. These are
facts and stubborn things.
Remember, money gotten by
bringing trouble on others never
carries blessing with it; but in
stead, a curse, and curses, like
chickens, come home to roost.
PRO BONO PUBLCO.