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■'V - : V WE GUARANTEE T^lie Reliability of Every Adver tiser Who Uses the Col umns of This Paper. The Ledger. F. O. STACY. President. J. O. Wardi.aw. Vico President THE NATIONAL BANK OF GAFFNET. Capital $50,000.00. Wim. trav county claims, receire deposit* and make hU-rul luaus on approved paper. I*, f. Koss. Cashier. A Newspaper in all that the Word Implies and Devoted to the Best Interests of the People of Cherokee County. ESTABLISHED FEB. 10, 1894. GAFFNEY CITY. S. C.. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 1898. $1.00 A Y'EAR. MR. ROBERTSON’S POSITION AS TO THE QUESTION OF FREE LIQUOR. He Defends Himself Against the Ar ticle of “A Prohibitionist" and Defines Hi3 Position on the issue. Mr. Editor:—I preached on the whiskey question, some time since, because I was asked to do so, and not for the purpose of raising debate or to criticise the position of the limited or particular prohibitionist as defined in your editorial ol two weeks ago. I have naught to say against the limited prohibitionist be cause I am one of that class of thinkers. My sermon referred to the prohibitionist or to express more definitely, us some seem slow to un derstand, the unlimited prohibition ist, or in other words he who holds that no intoxicants should be manu factured, sold or used under any cir cumstances. The word prohibition means to prevent and conveys the above idea, unless precided by some qualifying word, us limited or par ticular. etc. That the above is the platform of many' is clear, from remarks used such as "Let us rise in one united bund and extipate intoxicants, both root and branch,” or, "1 am a prohi bitionist in the strictest sense,” or, "Down with, banish all intoxicants,” or, "Wipe them from the face of the earth,” or, "Obliterate them on ac count of the evil caused by the use of them.” These assertions prove that abso lute prohibition exists in the minds of a multitude, and the writer of "a prohibition argument” is one of that band. He informs me that he wrote it to criticise my sermon as my re marks left the impression that I was a free whiskey man, so on account of his singular conclusion, I beg you to give me space to explain to all who so understood me, exactly my posi tion. My desire is to give a clear idea of the substance of my remarks and prove from God’s word that the brother has unjustly criticised uiy position. To do this, I will refer to his own paper, ns it will take less of your valuable space to cover the points than to publish my sermon. This brother has so expressed him self, as to open the way for severe and just criticism, but, since I do not wish to be harsh or misunder stood. I shall say no more than is necessary to refute the error he has made. Let us look at his argument. First he says, that he found nothing in the Bible but curses pronounced upon these who used intoxicants. Then he failed to find First Tim. 5:23 "Use a little wine for thy stomach’s sake, and thine often in firmities,” or 1'rov. 31:5, "Gire strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts.” These quotations refer to the use of intoxicants as medicine, and imply that the use of them in sickness benefits the patient, and experience proves that tuchis tiue. Then, according to this, w» find two places where blessing is im plied by use of stimulants when properly administered to the sick. This was exactly the position taken in my sermon. Now let us examine jiisown quotations Isaah 5:11, "Woe unto them that rise up early in the morning that they may follow strong drink, that continue until night, till wine inflame them,” Heb. 2:15,"Woe unto him that giveth his neighbor drink, that putteth thy bottle to him and makest him drunken.” None deny that these imply curses upon the users, but the curses refer to those who use to excess. Look at the emphatic clauses until wine in flame them—that is set on fire. I’utteth the bottle to him and makest him drunk,is still plainer. Isaiah 5:11 is a warning to the drinker who uses to excess, and Heb. 2:15 is a warning to him who holds out -’.e temptation and induces others to use to excess. This is again the position taken in my sermon. Then God’s voice through the Bible is, cursed is he who uses to excess or induces others to do so and blessed is he who uses it as medicine to cure such diseases as require it. I could prove these prin ciples to be true by many other quo tations, but as God’s once speaking is sufficient to give validity, [ shall not burden you with further evidence. This proves that the brother’s first assertion is without Bible sanction, as some are blessed by the proper use of intoxicants as medicine. We should learn what God refers to when he pronounces a curse or bless ing. Next, the brother says he did not find a single instance where one was held responsible for a sick man not having it to take. 1 reply to this by kindly asking if Ue found a single place where anyone proposed to abolish intoxicants or -wipe it out of existence. The prophets did warn against ex cessive use, but there is not u single reference where they cried out against its manufacture. Evidently from Biblical history, there were no prohibitionists, or to give emphasis and avoid being misunderstood, there were no absolute prohibitionist, consequently there was no use of warning men about taking it from the sick, or destroying it so the sick could not procure it for use when needful. Still, if the brother will examine the inspired language quoted closely, he will find that the warning is Implied very forcibly against keeping it from the sick who need it. Come, brother let us reason together. What does your physician mean when he says to you, use this or that medicine. Does he not mean that your disease demands its nse, and that he expects you to use it? Does not his remark imply that no one must keep you from using it by destroying it? Of course he does. Then whatef the command "Take a little wine for the stomachs sake.” Remember this is the utterance of the Great Physician whoa know all things, and never makes a mistake. He realizes that some diseases re quire its use, the.; do you not see that it is a warning againt keeping it from the sick who need it. Do you not see that to prohibit its manu facture would prevent the possibility of the sick’s obeying God. How could the sick take a little when needful if you had destroyed it? Then if he should die for the lack of it, would you not be responsible for his life. May God help you to see your responsibility and enable you to understand that First Tim. 5:23 and other references are truly warn ings against absolute prohibition or as you put it, against not letting a sick man have it. Again he argues against its use by referring to Christs heal ng the sick. He says Christ did not demand the use of wine when he cured. This implies that as Christ did not use wine to cure, that we should not. This principal practi cally carried out would deprive us of the right to use any medicine, which would leave us in a bad plight, fer we would be at the mercy of all dis eases that the human family is heir to, yet the world would be in no sad der condition without medicine than the man whose diseases demanded a stimulant to cure, and could not procure it because of the prohibatory law of the absolute prohibitionist. In reply to this you, doubtless, would say, "Let him die and save the drunkard by destroying the whiskey.” Tis true, if no whiskey was manufactured, there would be no drunkards, but those addicted to stronge drink would resort to opiates or something worse perhaps. Be sides you, in taking it from the sick man, would force him to disobey God, who says take a little. Then of course you would be responsible for his loss of life. You would not be justifiable in killing one to reform another. Again, Christ died for all classes of sinners, therefore it would be useless to murder the poor help less sick man. If Christs sacrifice will not save them the death of the poor sick fellow would be worthless in the redemption of the drunkard. Besides, put a drunkard in a dungeon and force him to become sober, is he not by appetite, still a drunkard? Then sobering him by force would not redeem him. T oe point here, brother is that Christ was the Divine Healer and needed none of these things to give efficacy to his work as the finite doc tors of our day need. He had only to command and the dead were made to rise. I trust this will teach you to see that your reference to Christ as an argument against its use is al together out of place, because there is not the least comparison between the two physicians, besides you do not know that a single one, cured by Christ Nvas so afflicted as to need the wine. Remember that all diseases do not need such a stimulant. 1 think these remarks declare plainly that we are not to follow Christ’s example in our efforts to cure the sick but should heed His voice which says take a little wine for the stomach’s sake. I agree with you fully about the horrors attending drunkenness and am willing to do any thing honorable in my power to re move it. except disobey God’s law, for to ignore God’s voice means to fail and make you guilty of disobe dience to God. while to obey means to succeed. Do remember that suc cess or failure depends upon obedi ence or disobedience to God, The whole of your argument im plies that, intoxicants should be destroyed because of the evil that comes from their use. You had as well say destroy fire because of the harm to both property and iife, or take all of the water out of the world because the floods and oceans are so destructive. Brother, listen to me. Absolute prohibition is as truly against God’s medical law. as the straight out whiskey party is against God’s protective law for the weak brother’s sake. Why so? Because absolute prohibition would make it impossible to get it for medical use. Remember it is ns truly a medicine as morphine, and is as indispensable in some cases. This is proven by God’s commanding its use. Next, ho says if one sick dies only the physical body is dead. This would do if all who die for the need of stimulants were regenerated per sons, but as the«e who would die be cause they could not get the stimu lant are as liable to be unregenerated as regenerated your claim fails, therefore your absolute prohibition law would hurl both soul and body of the unregenerated into an eternity of woe. Yoilr remark implies that both salvation and damnation are hinged exclusively on drunkenness or non-drunkenness. Do remember that only the man who is born of the spirit is saved. "Except a man be born of the spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.” Again you say the wine spoken of in Scripture was unfermented. You have no Bible proof that it was unfer mented, but as the point of discus sion is as to the intoxicatingqualities, I shall prove by the Bible that the wine 1’aul told Timothy to take would make one drunk if used to ex cess. The Greek word used for wine, is addressing Timothy was "Oinas” and 1’aul, the same writer, in writing to Ephesians warns them against becoming drunk on wine or Oinas thus using the same Greek word. This proves that the medical wine which God commands Timothy to take for sickness would make one drunk if used to excess. Again the word little implies as much for it is a word of caution against using to excess, so your assertion that it was unfermented grape juice is set aside by Bible proof. I agree with you fully as to purity of the article. Like all other medicine it should be pure. Again you speak of the poor pitiful excuse framed in taking a little wine for the stomach’s sake. Remember, if it is a poor excuse God framed it, if it is a pitiful excuse God framed it, for God commanded it, and not man. Then you ridicule God’s command and not mine. My advice to you is, re- flict seriously upon this, for it is not a small matter to ridicule God’s word, as you have done. Again you say that the veriest sot can truthfully sa/ he takes it for the stomach’s'.sake. and you informed mo tliat you meant to relieve the nausea after recovery from a drunken spell. Think brother! It is horrible to in terpret God’s language as referring to a sickness that is produced by diso bedience to God in the excess:ve use of any intoxicants. In love I must tell you that such interpretation of God’s word is blasphemy. I will stop hero although I have not said one tenth part of what I could justly say against your asgu- ment. I have said all in love to you and from loyalty to God’s truth, and ; f you will point out a single unjust remark 1 will not leave a single thing undone that is needful to correct it, while at the same time I shall defend God’s truth at any cosj. I hope this will end the matter. Though fear of being mis-understood, again I will sum up my position. 1. I am not an absolute prohibi tionist, because he deserves the destruction of God’s medical law, as set forth in First Tim. 5:23 and other references. 2nd. I am not a free whiskey man, because he desires the destruction of God’s prohibitory law which is im plied in God’s word Heb. 2:15 and other references. 3rd. I am a limited prohibitionist, or in other words, I believe that it should be manufactured, sold and used as a medicine but under no cir cumstances should it be manu factured, sold or used for any other purpose than as a medicine. 4th. I take this position because it is the only one that meets the de mands of God’s word, and makes it possible to obey Him in both phases of His intoxicant law. These points sum up the central thought of my sermon, and I am as tonished that any one should think that I am a free whiskey man. In my sermon, I cried out in harder language than I ever heard uttered from the lips of any human being against the manufacture, sale and use of intoxicants to excess, and I mean by that as it is manufactured sold and used in our government. I said that our government and state, seller and user in this particular, were guilty of eternal murder which I proved by God’s word First Cor. ♦5:10, "No drunkard shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven.” Doubtless you see that this proves that the drunkard is eternally damned if not reformed. Then as drunkenness is brought about by the use of liquors and liquors existence and use depend upon the grantor to manufacture, the manufacturer, the seller and user, all are guilty of eternal murder in God’s sight and must give an account. This the summing up of my argu ment against free liquor as set forth in my sermon. With these remarks Mr. Editor, 1 will conclude by thanking you for your kindness in grunting me space to clear up matters. C. E. RobkktsoS. | Having made an earnest effort to dissuade the gentlemen who have en gaged in this controversy from doing so, and ytt having yielded space to both sides of the question, we now deem it but proper to state that so far as this argument goes Tuk Lkd- orr will dismiss from its columns.— Ed. I THE SAGE OF ETTA JANE CONTINUES HIS NARRATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN. Mr. Lipscomb Says You Might as Well Try to Stop Hell From Burning as to Stop Some Men From Drinking. meeting (Correspondence of The Ledger.) Etta Jaxe, Get. 10.—Our report of the county canvass closed as we reached Grassy Toiid church. We have had frequent opportunity to speak of the people of this section, and we have done so impartially and respectfully. There are a great mony of our old Union county citi zens who now live in this section, and worship at Grassy Pond church. They are among the very best citi zens of Cherokee county. Of course the political meeting at Grassy Pond was an interesting one, from the fact that the candidates were on the qui vive for something to say to please and captivate the voters. Most of the congregation remained that afternoon to hear what the candidates had to say. The ladies occupied the house and the speakers were introduced by our worthy coroner, A. J. McCraw, who acted as chairman. The presence of ladies always has a restraining influ ence on men, and no doubt had much to do with the good temper that pervaded our meeting. No gentleman can afford to display his vicious temperament in the presence of refined ladies. No objection could be made to the manner in which Mr. McCraw con ducted the meeting and the candi dates had a very respectful hearing. The audience was probably the largest wo had met—many of whom were women and children. There was probably 200 or 250 voters pres ent. The speaking continued from 2 o’clock p. m. until near sundown. Among the many good things said by the candidates there, as else where, (which I have studiously avoided repeating) Mr. Edward Lips- comp, candidate for the legislature, said in speaking of prohibition: "You might as well try to stop hell from burning, as to stop some men from drinking liquor.” plenty of watermelons were on the ground and a friend proposed that «the candidates throw in and buy u load to treat the crowd. The money was raised and the purchase made. Everything passed off quietly and pleasantly and thus the closed. I should have made mention, in my previous letter, of the splendid music I heard from the local church choir at Grassy Pond during divine services that morning. It was a great factor in the work. The preaching was excellent and I for one, felt some embarrassment .in taking part in a political meeting on grounds dedicated to the worship of Almighty God, lest the sanctuary might not be properly respected by some thoughtless speaker or hearer. This is not the first time I have ex pressed this feeling, either. I spent that night with Mr. Will I. Jones, whose excellent wife was one of my pupils. I could not have been better treated at home than they and their family treated me. Mr. Jones and family was once Union county people, and Cherokee has no better now. From Mr. Jones’ next morning I wound my way across the country towards the Island Ford road, then on to Gaffney to the final winding up of the campaign—so far as the pub lic speaking was concerned. I passed through the plantation of Mr. J. Q. Little, which is one of the best upland farms in Cherokee county, or in the Piedmont beit for that matter. A small creuk runs through it, and it is otherwise sup plied with abundance of water, of the very best quality. I arrived in town about o’clock. The streets were full of people from all the dif ferent sections of the county and the town hud a holiday appearance—the merchants and clerks were as busy as bees, and every body happy and gay. The meeting was called to order by chairman I. G. Surratt, in the court house at 11 a. m. and continued un til 1:30 p. m. when a recess was taken for dinner and refreshments. Judge Sarratt presided with his ac customed dignity and impartiality and the speakers had a crowded house most of the time. Here, as elsewhere, every effort was made, (so far as I could see) on the part of the officers in charge of the different meetings to give each candidate | "fair play.” I never saw a more equitably conducted campaign and one that reflects higher honors on the people, generally, than that we have just passed through. That there are evidences of personal and malicious double-dealing which re flects seriously on the uprighting of the voters, I have no right to or inclination to dispute. These were kept profoundly secret until this work was accomplished, and now we may lock for them to bring forth fruits’in due season. The beneficiary may enjoy the treason while he de spises the traitor. Mrs. Alciminia Orr is very unwell and has been so for a long time. Her sons Walter J. and Columbus Moore- head, of Hickory Grove, came over yesterday to see her. Mr. M. C. Dorman, of Wllkins- ville, who is one of the best sweet potutoe raisers in this county, says he will dig them on the new moon of this month. Mr. C. E. Bailey, of Piney Grove, paid us a visit last Thursday. Capt. Jas. T. Morehead gave us a call last week. He complains of his corn rotting in the field as well as of some disappearing from the stalks. Mr. Nathan Lipscomb, County Supervisor. accompanied by T. M. Littlejohn, township commis sioner, made an official visit to this section last Thursday. Mr. W. T. Osments’ family are speaking of moving to the cotton mill at Pacolet this week. The rains last Wednesday night put the river out in low places. Mrs. Mary C. Estes paid Mrs. "J. L. S.” a visit last Thursday. She has been quite unwell for sev eral days. Our old friend and comrade, Mr. G. T. Wood, of Asbury, was down to see us last week. He is one of Cherokee’s best stay-at-home-and- mind-your-own-business citizens. Wherever you find "Uncle Thom as,” you may be sure he is on busi ness. A great many people are wishing for frost to come. They think it will abate the chills and fever. Some people are always looking for opportunities to do something good. They might as well look for fire-wood in the forest orwaterinthe sea. The world is always full of such opportuities. The rich man whose grounds brought forth plentifully, didn’t be lieve in foreign missions, much. Wo arc greatly indebted to Col. Griffith for his well-timed editorial of week before last on prohibition. The voters should paste it in their hats for reference two years hence. Ignorance borrows garments when it wants to go riding with wisdom. One of the compositors in Thr Ledger office give me a rasping last week for bad writing, and I prom ised to try and do better next time. It won’t do to fall out with the boys. But I must insist that they dodn’t misreprent me when I wrote a fa miliar quotation. This gives trouble as the following did a ministerial brother who has shared our experi ence slightly. Village I’arson (entering country editor’s office): "You promised to publish that sermon I sent you on Mooday, but I do not find it the latest issue of your paper ” Editor: "I sent it up. It surely went in. What was the name of it?” I’arson. "Feed my Lambs.” Editor “(after searching through the paper): "Ah—yes—us—here it is. You sec we’vo got a new fore man, and he put it under the head of Agricultural Notes, as "Hints on the Care of Sheep.’ ” The triennial meeting of the Inter denominational Sabbath School Asso ciation will be held in Atlanta, Ga,, next April. Let Cherokee county be represented. May 10, 1899, is the time set for the national reunion of the U. C. Veterans in Charleston. This will, beyond doubt, be the greatest meet ing in the history of that organiza tion. Let every veteran in Chero kee county enroll himself and go or send some one to represent him. Charleston is making every arrange ment to give them a grand recep tion, and this will be the last re union many of them will ever have an opportunity to attend. We hope Col. Griffith will have his regiment under command and move it in a body. Now is the time to begin making arrangements and work for a grand meeting. 1‘erhaps those pugnacious follows who were so bitterly opposed to our ministers taking any part in favor of prohibition at the late primary elec tion think that the action of those Buffalo (N. fcY.) ministers, who so completely routed the 4.000 sports and put an end to the Corbett-Mc- Coy prize light have worked an irre parable injury to the Christian church. Those ministers who thought it inadvisable to tackle the liquor question for fear of losing their reputation ought to form a court and try their Buffalo brethren for heresy. "What Education should be,” u paper read by Miss Lillian Smith before the Cross Anchor Literary Society the >ther day, is worthy of perusal by parents, teachers and others interested in the education of our children, it reflects honor on its fair author. We attended the communion meeting of the A. R. 1‘resbyterian ! tered the sacrament of the Lord's Supper to one of the largest bodies of communicants it has been our privilege to meet in many years, if ever before. In addressing the com municants he laid special emphasis on the phase : "Whosoever shall eat this bread and drink this cup of the Lord unworthily,” etc., as having reference to the.manne* in ,vhich we eat and drink and not as to the man ner of man; for we are unworthy creatures and as such we must come in the dust of humility, feeling that we are unworthy of the very least of God’s mercies. I met many of my old friends at Hickory Grove with whom I always enjoy myself. Sharon, Blacksburg. King's Creek, Smyrna. JBullock’s Creek and various other sections were represented. The C. E. Society met at our home last night. Mrs. "J. L. S.” has a fine speci men of‘tomato sent her by our friend, Mr. James I’roctor. It is cf the Acme variety and was grown by that distinguished horticulturist. He a<t- vises her to keep it for seed iuxt year. Rev. J. D. Bailey, of Cowpens, is now preparing an historical sketch of Col. James Williams, a "martyr hero of the Revolution.” Mr. B. expects to publish this sketch and try to raise a sufficient fund to prop erly mark his grave. This is a mat ter in which all patriotic people in Cherokee county, at least, should come to his assistance and erect such a shaft to the memory of this hero as will reflect credit not only on Col. Williams, but on Cherokee county and the State of South Caro lina. .1. i.. s. THE NEGRO THAT PLOWS. He Sees the Present Condition of the Farmer. (Correspondence of The Leaser ) Mu. Editor:—Please allow me to state through The Ledqer a few facts to the farmers of Cherokee county, l have noticed the condition of the farmers for sometime, and it seems that they are in better heart in the month of April, when they are plant ing their crops, than they are in the month of October, when they are sell ing their crops. They are living in hopes then six months from the market. Is there more use in worK- ing for money than their is in getting it? I think not, the trouble is, we expect to get 8 or 9 cents for our cotton and after we make it, and take it to the market, we only get 4. or 5 cents a pound, ^n the spring, you can hear the colored man singing "I've got the sword in my hand, everyday Lord, I’ve got the sword in my hand.” And you can hear the white man singing, "How firm u foundation ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in his excellent word,” and when the time comes to reap and rejoice, they quit binging and walk about slow and almost drag their feet, and look like they want to fight something. Now we can stop our hopes from being blighted by only planting for what we gen erally get. It is stated that in 1872 cotton sold for 20 cents a pound. And now it is 5 cents a pound, just 4. And it is further stated that there is four times as much cotton made now, as in 1872. And in 1872 cotton checks sold by the wholesale at 7, and 8 cents a yard, now it sells for 2 add 3 cents a yard. We should plant more corn, wheat, oats, and cane. W. G. Patterson. Oct. 7, 1898. Highland Rice. [SpartantiurK llcurillglit.] Mr. J. W. Gray, who lives at Holly Springs, Spartanburg county, last Tuesday showed us a sample of high land rice that he raised on his farm. It is of the new crop and as good as we ever saw. Mr. Gray says he can raise about bushels of clear rice to the acre. This rice is cleaned at a rice mill in operation at Tayidr’s station, over in Greenville county. This is a new enterprise for Spartan burg county, and beats five cents cot ton. Rice sells on market for about •f l per bushel, and there is a ready sale for all we raise. It is a sure crop and grows on thin land. A Narrow Escape. Thankful words written by Mrs. Ada E. Hart, of Groton, S. D. "Was taken with a bad cold which settled on my lungs; cough set 1a and finally terminated in Consumption. Four Doctors gave me up, saying I could live but 11 short time. I gavo myself up to my Savior, determined if I could not stay with my friends on earth, l would meet my absent ones above. My husband was ad vised to get Dr. King’s New Discovery for Consumption. Coughs and Colds. I gave it a trial, took in all eight church at Hickory Grove, yesterday, bottles. It has cured me, and thank A large congregation was present and God I am saved and now a well and Rev. W. P. Lindsey preached a very | healthy woman. Trial bottles free at impressive sermon from Romans, Nth DuPre Drug Co. chapter. 14,15, 1(5 and 17th verses j Regular size 5()c and $1.00. Guar- Rev. J. P. Knox, pastor, adminis- ar.tml or price refunded,