The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-07-29
FAVORS THE DISPENSARY.
A Barnwell Mans Views on the LIZ
quor Question.

The following communication was
published in a recent issue OF the
Barnwell People:
Liquor is not the cause of insanity
and crime as many believe. Fast llV-
ing is the true cause, whiskey the ex-
cuse. Liouors-like fire, strychnine
and pistols are dangerous in the
hands of bad men. The improper
uses of these things have caused a
lot of trouble. All of the articles
mentioned here are good in their
places and have been since the be-
ginning of time. God made man and
all things for the use of man. In his
law he tells US how to use all things,
he tells us that we should be temper
ate in all things. He warns us against
using them improperly. Should the
prohibition party succeed in getting
LIQUOR out of the country men would
substitute something more injurious
to the mind.
Taking all things in consideration
/ think that prohibition would be
worse than a failure. We have had
it in Barnwell county and liquor was
so plentiful that you could not tell
any difference. Then why spend
money and time trying to do thing
that we know will make no change
for the better. The characters and
habits of the present generation are
already formed and if man has not
got the will power and moral courage
to leave off drink it is bad policy to
make a law to force him to it. IN
nine. cases out of ten it will make
him worse. Better use some persua-
sion. Human nature is the same in
all ages. When you make laws that
take away a mans privileges that he
considers were handed down from his
maker then he is sure to rebel against
them. Pass a law to prohibit the
sale of liquor and it is equal to say
ing a man shall not drink. Then l
think you. are out of the bounds OF
reason. God made man free agent.
That being the case I think he ought
to be allowed the privilege Of eating
or drinking if he pays for it what
ever he likes. At the same time l
don't believe in a mans making
hog of himself. Then again l don't
believe that the prohibition party
ought to want to take away the prlvl-
lege of all because there are a few
hogs among US. Pass a law to por-
hibit the sale Of whiskey and good
many more men will violate the law.
Then where comes the good in pro-
ehibition? We all know that prohibi-
ton does. not take the whisEey out
of the country. 1t only makes 1t
little harder to get and the grade so
bad that it will make a dozen lights
and cause one or two funerals to
every pint. 1t is an undoubted fact
that the dispensary law is the best
huuor law that we have ever had and
it is only the politicians and men who
think they have not got their share OF
the profits that have raised the howl.
Against the dispensary law such men
say that the dispensary law is not and
can not be enforced. I say that we
come as near enforcing the dispen-
sary law as any other law. 1t is
sad thing, but true nevertheless that
men have come to believe that where
their interest lies the law does not
touch them or if it does they know
that with the use of little money
they can carry their point. / believe
we ought to have reform in home
government first; I believe prohibi-
ton is the wrong step. Reform
should begin at home with the par
ents of babies teaching them the use
Of all things. Teach them to observe
your laws and they vii! not vlolate
the laws of the land. Teach them
that all things come to those who l9e
bor and wait. Teach them patience,
brotherly love and kindness. The fall
sure to teach these principles has
caused all the trouble Of our land.
The people of this country are living
at the rate Of 40 miles per minute,
not willing to labor and wait for any
thing. They take short cuts to get
money. If they don't get it they
take to drink, murder Themselves or
somebody else and wind up in the
penitentiary or insane asylum. Then
it can't be truthfully said that liquor
is the cause Of the trouble. The cause
Is in the man. Then say you must
begin at the cradle to get the defects
out of the man and If you want to do
the present generation any good pass
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