Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1913-09-10
After the Election.

After the Election.
The sovereign people" of Flor
ence county have decided to retain
the dispensary.
l. 1t may be of some interest to
note the fact that only l0s votes
were cast against the sale of alcohol
as a beverage in the precinct of
Florence. Perhaps ninety of these
are members of the churches in
the city. There are more than
400 possible voters who are mem.
bers of the city churches, 80 that
there are more than 800 church
members who either voted for the
dispensary or failed to vote at all.
This means that less than twenty
FIVE per cent of the enfranchised
church members took a positive
stand for prohibition in the election.
The responsibility for retaining the
dispensary lies at the door Of the
churches. The further meaning of
this result is that either the sale of
alcohol as a beverage is right or
else there is low standard of NOR
ais in the churches of Florence.
The result of the election was de-
termined by the charches of Flor
ence.
2. AS true patriots, real prohi-
bitionists can rest under quiet
consciences, having given their
conscience the benefit Of the doubt
as between economics and strict
morality, apparent pecuniary gain
and humanity and social welfare.
AS the love of money is the root
of all evil" so the use of alcohol rs
the mother of crime. Dividing
mankind into two classes prohi-
bitionists need not despond, for
right is right and in the end will
prevail against might Remember
the cloud of the Hebrews and Egyp-
tians.
3. Now that rum sellers have
won, what will be their attitude to-
wards the enforcement of the laws
controlling the sale of alcoholics.
The dispensary is the mother of
(common) blind tigers-the source
of their supply. Would it not be
natural then for it's friends to be in.
different toward the suppression of
its faithful patrons? Hence lax and
| Indifferent enforcement of law. The
more blind tigers the more 'dispen
sary profits" The more lawless-
ness and disorder the greater evi-
dence Of profitable liquor bust
ness. The gentlemen" blind IL
gers, though not patrons of the dis
pensary, yet being proprietors, they
will not be disturbed by officers Of
the law.
4. But what will be the attitude
of prohibitionists towards the en-
forcement of law? If they are actu.
ated by principle and a desire to
promote human welfare, they will
not give up any more than Chris
tianity gives up because Of sin, des.
pite it's efforts in evangelization
Nay, there is encouragement even
in defeat since the Webb law stands
for progress. There is need for or
ganization and orderly effort. Law
and Order Leagues for enforcement
of law and the w. G. T. U. for
education of public sentiment are
in order. 1t was by organization of
temperance forces and public senti-
ment that the old barroom system
was removed, though politicians
appropriated the spoils to their own
use. 1t is little strange that men
who were then enraged at the great
moral institution Ire becoming it's
staunchest supporters. Why? For
similar reason, personal gain at the
sacrifice of principle. 1t was theft
then; it is now theft of the coun-
trymen's wealth and human happi-
ness.
Let the anti-liquor leagues every
where call to better organization
and cooperation under Law and
Order Leagues. There are four
years during which national and
state progress may become marked.
Renewed and redoubled efforts
should be-will be-made under
the motto, "For God and Humani-