The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-08-02
(TO BE CONTINUED.)
LEGALIZED LIQUOR BUSINESS.
Weighed I'm the Balancc-FOund
Wanting.

1t is gratifying to read the follow
ing record Of what has been accom-
plished by those engaged in trying to
outlaw the liquor business:
More than half the counties of the
republic, multitudes Of incorporated
villages and cities. and nine entire
states, containing upwards Of forty
six million OF people--fifty per cent
OF the population-embra above
two-thirds of the entire territorial
areas Of the country have outlawed
the saloon THE traffic has been
driven from the army and navy, from
immigrant stations and from the ma
tional capital" The greatest tri-
umph Of the temperance forces Of
the nation was the passage of the
Webb-Kenyon bill over the veto of
President Taft, not only for the SER
vice 1t will render the cause Of law
enforcement, but for demonstrated
fact that congress is responsible to
the organized. expressed will of the
people on this as on other important
moral issues The Webb law is q
splendid law. Its object is to throw
the powerful influence Of the Federal
government in support Of any whis-
key law upon States statute books.
II We have prohibition i'm a State the
Federal government now says 1--WE
will use our influence to aid in the
enforcement Of prohibition" Here
tofore the attitude of the Federal gov
ernment has been, 1T matters not to
us whether a State has prohibition or
not. We will continue to sell to any
one who wishes our license to sell
whiskey and we will not endeavor to
enforce any prohibition law"
1 give these quotations to encour-
age those who have allowed the local
situation, or any aspect of it, bring
Encouragement to them. This is
great big old country we live in and
we should keep our eyes wide enough
open to see that much good Is going
on in other States. 1t helps US to
fight our battles at hand, when we
know that others are winning VIC
tory over the same enemy else.
where.
The legalized liquor traffic has had
it's day; long dark day. full of de-
ception and fraud, misery and ruin,
bloodshed and death. These will fol-
low 1t az long as it lasts just as they
weighed in the balances and found
wanting. 1t must go. 1t Is on the
run now. 1t is fighting hard for life
but ii Is doomed Those who are will
ling to fight it's battles for 1t are going
down with II. 1t and they must fail
for they are fighting against God.
Suppose they succeed who are now
trying to re-establish the dispensary
In Sumter county. Think what their
responsibility will be. Every lawyer
(and most citizens) knows that n man
who aids the murderer is guilty with
him OF the murder. Here Is a muir
derous institution OF the worst kind
for which men vote. When 1t puts in
its murderous work who is commit
ting the murder? He that biddeth
him Godspeed is partaker OF his evil
deeds" q John 11th verse; 1t is
enough. 1t would seem, to keep any
man from voting the whiskey business
on n county, If he would only remcm-
Der that he will have part in all the
evil that grows out of it, 1t would be
hard for the most expert bookkeeper
To figure out my part of responsibility
Tor murder, IL broken up home. u
business ruined. "a suicide, a separa-
uon Of husband from wife, wife
beating. hungry child. "a poorly clad
child. IN uncducat.d child, "a lost soul
Hut every one Knows that all this Is
but partial list of the great evils
thaNgo with drink. If bid the coun-
~ 'fodSpeed" in its evil work shall
he partakcr of the evil. God keeps
books and some day His books will be-
opened. And ! saw the dead. small
ana great stand before God; and the
books were opened; and the dead
wer" judged out Of those things which
were written in the books. according
To their works" ORev. 2O-l2) Every
man who casts his ballot In the com
ing election, may count on meeting it
with all the evil it has entailed on