The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1913-07-02
Opposed To DispCnsary.

me lolioWihS cipplng from the
Southern Christian Advocate has
been handed us with the request that
it be published:
| VIII not undertake in this article
TO give all the reasons, but ONLY a
few:
/. Because the evils of the liquor
traffic and of liquor drinking are not
dependent on the method Of sale.
out grow out Of the nature OF Ii
quor. Whiskey will have the same eff
fect no matter how or by whom sold.
1t will produce drunkenness. incite
TO crime break up homes entail pow
erty and destroy character as quick
ly II sold by a preacher as dispenser
as 1t will ii sold by an outlaw. So long
us the nature OF alcohol is what it is.
and 50 long as it affects for evil the
physical, mental, moral and spiritual
nature of man, if angels sold it the
results would be just what they are.
The courts of the land have spoken
In condemnation of the traffic. The
highest scientific medical authoritv
mas pronounced alcohol a poison to
the human sytsem. The large busi-
ness interests of the country have
condemned it. The moral forces and
church of God have made an uncom-
promising war on il. Experience
shows that the liquor traffic is inca
papie OF purifcation and is beyond |
redemption. No method of regula-
ton has ever destroyed the evils of
IT, Therefore, | cannot accept any
legal sale of it and cannot refrain
from opposing the illegal sale.
:. Because the liquor traffic has
peen a corrupting power in politics /
since it has legal standing 1t is to-
day the greatest and most unprinci-
pied trust in existence. All are ia
miliar with the black record ot
shame, bribery and corruption of the
old State dispensary.
3. Because by compromising the
right we always lose. The only thing
we gain is to derive revenue, and
we gain this at a moral loss. No !
man can truthfully say that the dis
pensary destroys blind tigers; they
are too plentiful in dispensary coun-
ties. The dispensary is a convenient
source of supply for retail and Sun
day selling for the country tigers. ls
not the revenue the bottom reason
We do not take this position on car
rying concealed weapons, stealing
and murder. all of which prevail
4. Because I cannot reconcile to
my moral nature to try to make
moral wrong right by getting a rev.
enue from it. A government may
impose a fine for the committing of
a crime without being partner in
the crime, for the fine is punishment.
But when 1t sells the right to COM
init moral wrong no logic can save
1t from being an accessory before
ing those who believe it to be NOR
ally wrong to sell liquor. When I :
vote for the legal sale Of LIQUOR I
sell my right, duty and opportunity
to fight this great evil. can fight
the blind tiger with law and public
sentiment / may even convert him
from the error of his way by the !
gospel But | cannot convert or fight
the dispensary for four long years.
During that time it may in the name
OF law and responsibility make a
drunkard of my BOY and | have no
power TO remove the temptation
from him. Ii is weighty reason
with me that ! have boy. With my
chance To ruin his character, even If .
1t offers To put few cents i'm his
head.
D. Because of my individual re-
sponsibility as a church member. If
y,
my motives may be. l have i'm fact
endorsed all the results of its work. ,
Am | obeying Jesus when He said, .
Let your light SO shine, etc" if |.
vote to legaiiZe this evil? There is
but one question for me. that of my
individual duty.
q. Lastly because | believe that !
follow the teaching OF Gods word .
when | oppose this evil. 1t says,
Thou shalt not follow multitude
to do evil" Moral questions are
not settled by majoritics. All the
voters in the world can't make right
what is inherently wrong. The word
OF God says, Woe unto him that
giveth his neighbor drink, that put
teth thy bottle To him and maketh