The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1911-07-26
REVENUE FROM LIQUOR.

law and distinguished for Christian
character. But we are surprised that,
In their lectures to grand juries and
while discoursing upon lawlessness
and crime, they fail to go a little fur
ther and warn their countrymen that
the chief source of crime is the pub
lie sale of liquor. Is it possible that
some of our judges who, while failing
in moral Courage TO speak out from
the bench that which their conscience
surely dictates, spend some time while
off duty, pointing out to the dear peo-
pie the glories of revenue from the
sale of liquor. as illustrated by Aiken
and Richland?
| Is it possible that any one of them
would be willing that those counties
should continue the crime-producing
and soul-destroying traffic, to the end
that public revenue might abound?
Or is one Of them willing to reestab-
lish the sale of liquor in a community
In order to reduce the taxes on his
large property holdings and thereby
save few pitiful dollars, while he
knows in his inmost soul that every
dollar Of revenue that ever came from
such sale means the sacrifice of homes,
hearts, hopes, happiness and heaven?
But. is 1t tn judges place or duty to
sermonize? Yes, it is his duty forever
to point out that which will build up
and warn against that which will pull
down.
A half century ago, South Carolina
had man of great learning and abil-
ity who presided in the courts of the
State, by the name of John Bolton
O'Neal. He was not only distin-
guished lawyer and jurist, but had
in a very high degree those higher
attributes OF character which never
fail to win the gratitude and enduring
remembrance of his countrymen.
/ Whilst others, honored with place, able
perhaps brilliant, but failing in their
ideals and drawing from sensual, sor-
did, mercenary, or ambitious motives,
the life. the rule, the motive and re-
ward Of all their actions and dying
sink into oblivioun forever.
What Would Judge 0'Neal Do!
Suppose he could hold court in
Aiken now. In passing death sentence
on poor shivering culprit at the bar,
and in usual stereotyped phrase warn
end, would he stop there? 1 trow
not. He would go further and point
out to the grand inquest of the county
the curse of the sale of liquor.
Gentlemen, you congratulate your
people, and no doubt falicitate your
selves, upon the fact that you have
money in your treasury Ardinarily
this is well, but we must not forget
that plethoric public treasury is not
always proof of real prosperity. Ev-
en- now the treasury of the United
States groans under the weight of its
'cumulation of hard earned money
wrung from millions of toiling men
women and children in the form of
unjust taxes. The despotisms of the
old world, ancient and modern. boast
ed of vast treasures, while their en-
slaved millions, from whom unjust
tribute has forever been eXtorted, have
cried out to humanity that their bur
dens were greater than they could
bear Gentlemen / confess much re-
gret that | cannot join in your CON
gratulations, for, | am told that the
] great bulK Of thic rayapua con,o fro,,,
the dispensing of liquor 1t is neces-
sary only to stop and think for a mo-
mcnt to realize that for every dollar
that the county gets from that source.
society-men, women and children
have lost many fold in actual money
outlay, yea, an hundred-fold, could
virtue and peace and happiness be es-
timated in dollars and cents.
Than to get revenue in this way
small tax levy will be infinitely better.
Better some bonds than moral bank
ruptcy. Gentlemen. do you ask for a
remedy foE the unusual prevalence of
drunkenness, disorder and crime in your
county? Why. Mr.. Foreman. YOU have
only to look around you. Go to Spar
tanburg, Grecnville or Laurens where
there is no public sale of liquor and
see the difference Compare with
yours the records of their courts, es-
pecially the city, or police court. for
this will always show the rise and fall
of crime and disorder in a town, great
or small. 1t will always show the
extent of the consumption of liquor
! 20 matter how procured The one