The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1909-06-23
VS.. HUMAN RIGHT
And It's Ultimate Moral Effect.


tion of men, moral, political or social
has the right to prescribe what 1
shall not drink. This is prescribing
what 1 shall drink. For If there be,
as there is, but whiskey, water,
milk, tea, coffee, ETC., that can he
drunk, to prohibit any one of these,
Is to, negatively, dictate what 1 shall,
or may drink. If they can decide
what / may drink, they can dictate,
also what 1 shall eat, and wherewith
I shall be clothed. Then, logically, it
follows. as night follows day, and in
evitably. Tin the process of such
sumptuary dictation,) what 1 shall be-
lieve, and what 1 may, and may not
think. This would be mental slavery
or bondage. Let us not start in this
direction for we cannot see how far it
will go with those who shall come az
te, us-or even with ourselves!
I deny it because: the right to eat
Or drink whateevr I choose, irrespec-
tive Of the wisdom or folly of any
particular act, was not acquired, not
bestowed by men. nor derived from
government or any organization, nor
inherited from parents. but from the
Creator. Who, Himself. set before
us blessings and curses, saying:
"Choose ye.' (each for himself). Let
us not make the curses worse, by ad-
ding violation Of law to those who le-
ultimately use liquors. For violation
of one law leads to disregard of any
law that does not suit us. And South
Carolina. and the whole country, is
wellnigh uncomfortable in that respect
now. without opening a high school
tn demoralize the few remaining who
still have some respect for law.
This right (the right to indulge
moderately, immoderately or to deny
ourselves, partially, or totally, applies
to liquor as we'll as all things not pro-
hibited by the Creator. is one of the
inherent, underived rights of man.
Bestowed by the Creator, 1t can be,
righteously withdrawn. only by him.
II is a part of our constitution. 1t ac-
centuates our individuality. For the
manner or extent in which we use. or
abuse. this right each Is accountable
to him, and not to men. Therefore
What God hath joined let no man
put asunder." Now let me try to
make my meaning clear. First. I do
not mean anything I have not said.
and do mean exactly what I have
said---if understand the meaning
OF the words used. And If you will
understand them, as they are, and not
inject, from your mind, the color of
some jumped at, conclusion or preju-
dice, which is clearly beyond, and ad-
ditional to the meaning Of the words
I use and the ideas by them conveyed,
I am sure no clear mind will dispute.
This right is clearly recognized, and
fully admitted, Il believe. in all pro-
hibition territory. and certainly in
the minds of the. prohibitionists in
South Carolina. by providing that
druggists may sell 1t under restric-
tions. Now If he has the right to
swallow a spoonful. he has the right
to swallow pint. or a quart, in what
ever time, long or short, that he sees
1T. And the drinkers conscience Is
the only mentor that God has au-
thorized to, forcibly, restrain him, re-
serving to himself to punish any vio-
'att in the way of gluttonry or ex-
cess.
If crime or wrong be committed
under intoxication, the crime is just
the kind and degree Of crime II would
have been If the perpetrator had been
sober, and should be punished as
such. Drunkenness is one wrong and
each wrong act, while drunk. is an
other wrong, and neither can merge
into. or, in mans law. alter the tur-
pitude OF the other, unless it be by
aggravation.
Many persons, without shadow Of
ground. suppose that the churches.
and the Bible lay it upon their con-
sciences to get a political organiaati op
to enforce prohibition. So far are
churches from favorng prohibtian of
that not one, in all the
centuries of church history has ever
attempted. or so far as I know. even
proposed to- among the members. still
less upon the world And the Bible
and our Lord, plainly sanction the
proper use Of liquors that can intoXi-
cate, If misused. And the same is
tue of other matters. which are
worthy and commendable when done
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